ISSUES OF WOMEN HEALTH IN NON-MUSLIM COMMUNITY OF KARACHI, PAKISTAN: A QUALITATIVE SURVEY

Abstract

Background: The women from non-Muslim community of Karachi have to face several issues regarding their health. The objective of this study was to find out the issues regarding the women health in non-Muslim community of Karachi and to provide suggestions in this context. Materials & Methods: This qualitative survey was conducted at Pakistan Study Center, University of Karachi, Pakistan from July 2011 to December 2011. Eleven Non-Muslim populated areas of Karachi were selected. The primary data was collected through structured interview schedule, including 15 open ended questions. One doctor from each cluster of the eleven minority populations was interviewed. The responses were noted on a notebook. The theme was to understand the health issues faced by women around fourteen concepts; provision of food to boys and girls, health of girls before marriage, health of girls after marriage, side effects of early age marriages, women’s health during pregnancy, role of midwife, presence of non-qualified practitioners, problems during maternity, concept of family planning, health facility during emergency, weight of children at the time of birth, mother feed for the children, role of dirty and polluted atmosphere, and diseases due to reserved professions. Results: There was a lack of awareness in the non-Muslim families of Karachi regarding provision of equal food to their children on the basis of sex. The physical health of girls before marriage was not good in these families. After marriage they are also at risk of mental illness due to poverty, illiteracy, uncomfortable residential units and having limited access to the lady doctors. The overcrowded houses and polluted atmosphere also affects badly their physical health. Conclusion: The non-Muslim women are deprived from health facilities due to socio-economic problems. It is the dire need to provide health education to the non-Muslim women in their settlements. Moreover, Health care facilities may be provided by establishing Basic Health Units, Rural Health Centers, Maternal & Child Health centers in these areas as per population density.