African women, sick from malaria. International womens day.

In the international women’s day, bear in mind the situation of women in other regions, especially in which are very heavily shaken by economic poverty. And the case of malaria can be very enlightening.

Spain, March 2010.- the female mosquito Anopheles gives same, same thing bites to men than to women, but malaria affects more and differently to women than to men why? So far there is little research that depart from the approach of gender with regard to the impact of malaria. However, a project carried out by Roll back Mallaria (of the World Health Organization), Kvinnoforum Foundation (Swedish Civil society organization), Fammes Africa Solidarité and Multinational Initiative Malaria, shed light on the question that heads this article.

Exposure to the malaria is different in men and women. Men working in forests, fisheries, mining and cattle run a higher risk, if your working hours coincide with the hours that the bite of mosquitoes is higher, at dusk or dawn.

The responsibilities of women, such as the preparation of the dinner at the last minute of the evening, or food before leaving the Sun, in the exterior of the House, can expose them to greater risk than men for malaria infection.

regarding the use of preventive measures, in Kenya, studied because it failed the distribution of mosquito nets impregnated with insecticide. Among the poorest people, those who had a net put in the bed of the couple, excluding other members it but in pregnancy, women left the bed of the couple to go to sleep with children on the ground. If a single net is available in a house he always awarded to the place where the man, who is considered the economic breadwinner of the family sleeps.

Pregnant women have a rate four times higher than other adults malaria infection. A poor woman pregnancy increases the risk of disease, severe anaemia and death. In the case of pregnant teenagers risk increases for social reasons, because in many parts of Africa they suffer from social rejection and have few resources for access to prenatal care.

Health services are less used by the women of what necesitarian. Research in Ghana has shown that women who have no income, or who disagreed with her husband or his family elders, had many difficulties to access health centres.

Mothers are the first to disgnostican and associated with mild cases of malaria to mosquito bites, while severe seizures (high fever) are considered as a result of supernatural causes. Attending traditional caregivers.

Mother consulted several sources of healing, starting with the traditional healers and following by modern care, alternating both. Oddly in some cases, when poverty is declining, the use of women health centers decreases. Populations without irrigation women have more income, as a result, if the traditional treatment fails, come soon to the local market to buy antimalarials, if the disease persists, call upon the head of the family to carry the child to the Medical Center. In populations with irrigation, women have less income at his disposal, this after a failed attempt of traditional healing, they call directly for her husband bring the child to the health center.

In certain cases, males less than women use health services, in similar circumstances. This behavior relate to masculine social norms that determine that men should be strong and overcome the disease by themselves, or well give less importance to health, or do not feel comfortable asking for help. When a man falls ill, women must also assume the role of the man, looking for the sustenance of the family. When a patient of the family should be taken to the health centre, other women in the community, often reinforce home to care for healthy members.

In many cultures women are perceived as unfair in sexual matters if they consult with a health worker.

The cultural level of the women, who have been discriminated against since girls in access to school, also has negative consequences. Many women have difficulty to understand the importance of the dignã³stico and early treatment of malaria, or does not have a habit of expressing their health needs.

As asserted by the DRA. Awa Marie Coll-Seek of Roll back Malaria: women are the first line to care for those suffering from malaria. However, in most endemic countries, these same women have little access to information, its power of decision is laughable and have few financial resources, these are all things necessary for implementing the prevention and cure of the community.