(Kamala B. Sarup wrote a booklet on “Rural Women's Empowerment and Reproductive Health”)
Reproductive health, as defined by the World Health Organization and adopted by the P (ICPD) means “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its functions and processes. Reproductive health therefore implies that people are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life and that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and how often to do so” .
Worldwide, most of the women die each day from pregnancy-related complications. Most of the deliveries are carried out without skilled care. There is no assistance available for the deliveries. With their reproductive life ahead of them, they are a vulnerable and even most of the women are unaware about reproductive health.
Worldwide, most of married women do not want another pregnancy immediately after giving birth to their first child, but among them only few percent have access to family planning devices. Gender inequality is rampant.
The concept of reproduction, the dangers attached with repeated pregnancy, abortion and safe motherhoods of birth control have to be taught.
In an article published in The Kathmandu Post daily, Bidhan Acharya states that “Women are the poorest even within poor households. The distribution of power, income, and decision making all contribute to male supremacy. Keen observation suggests that women are always closer to nature and environment. They are concerned with drinking water, fuel-wood and fodder, farming, childbearing and rearing, and food and shelter for the family. Since the quality and quantity of food for the household too depends upon the women, the nutritional status of the total population is also largely dependent on the knowledge of nutrition among women. The irony is that women have been serving submissively as sub-ordinates.
Also Bidhan Acharya further reflects that "Attempts to raise the status of women face hindrances. The poor educational status of women is connected with their employment and the nature of the jobs they can have access to. Most educated women are confined to secretarial and sub-ordinate jobs. Women are not proportionately represented at decision-making levels. A kind of hesitation is frequently found when talking about women’s empowerment and women rights. Several intellectual women are scared to talk about, and quite a large number of men and women are reluctant to express their views publicly in favour of women’s rights, because they do not like to be listed as ‘feminists’. Feminism is not an isolated approach, but a campaign to mainstream poor and powerless women, but it is losing the affection of contemporary intelligentsia.".
In recent years, the adolescent Reproductive Health has been a matter of priority. As the problem of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) including HIV/AIDs is increasingly a major threat. Therefore, information, education and counselling for responsible sexual behaviour and prevention of STDs including HIV should become integral components of Reproductive Health services.
Women in some countries also have little say in pregnancy-related decisionmaking. Family members make decisions for them. Women have long been denied their birth-right to be in charge of their individual lives.
Thus, it is believed that unless appropriate and adequate education and employment programmes are launched, the life expectancy of the women will decline. The increase in the education of women and girls contributes greater empowerment of women.
A number of seminars, workshops, symposiums, meetings are being organized in different occasions on different issues on reproductive rights. There are several acts and laws related to reproductive rights but there is no real changes and development. Much of our legislation has remained on paper. They never reaches down to the women.