title: Social determinants of health: Social forces that shape women and men's knowledge of reproductive health in a resource-limited setting.
abstract: Social forces shape people's reproductive health in many ways. We examined people's knowledge about reproductive health using focus group data collected from 93 participants in rural districts of Malawi. Participants' perspectives were contextualized by explaining the socioeconomic, cultural, and gender factors that determine reproductive health for rural Malawians. Strategies to improve reproductive health care in environments lacking in health infrastructure, staff, and economic resources are then provided. We call for a reproductive health agenda to target preventive care by providing information about anatomy and biology, communicating information in culturally competent ways, and educating men and women over the life course.
authors.affiliation: a Ministry of Health , Lilongwe , Malawi.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Namasasu
authors.affiliation: b Department of Sociology , Washington State University , Vancouver , Washington , USA.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chivers
authors.affiliation: c School of Exercise, Health & Sciences, Edith Cowan University , Joondalup , Western Australia , Australia.
authors.forename: Leesa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Costello
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008295:Malawi; D008297:Male; D054526:Men's Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D060728:Reproductive Health; D034121:Reproductive Health Services; D012424:Rural Population; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D064890:Social Determinants of Health; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016387:Women's Health