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Opinion Piece

Investing in Primary Care Nursing

An important strategy in improving the health and well-being of women

Afaf Meleis
Margaret Bond Simon Dean of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA; Council General, International Council on Women's Health Issues, United States of America

Article Text

The gender divide continues to compromise health care for women globally. Women constitute one-third of the world's labor force, they work two-thirds of the world's working hours, and yet they earn one-tenth of the world's income (International Council on Women's Health Issues 2007; World Bank 2007). Infections also compromise women and their health.

For example, women and girls now comprise over 60 percent of people living with HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa and over 60 percent of infected individuals globally (International Perspective 2006). In fact, the top Millenium Development Goals are focused on fundamental issues that women face: elimination of poverty, decreasing infant and maternal mortality rates, eliminating illiteracy and ensuring universal primary education, and preventing infections (United Nations 2005). A focus on women's health and an investment in primary care nurses play a major role in providing primary health care.

The health care crises that our global community faces-health disparities, lack of health care access for vulnerable populations, shortage and mal-distribution of health care workers-could be addressed through utilizing an integrative paradigm with a primary focus on women's health and primary care. Healthy and safe womanhood through primary health care is the key driver for safer and healthier global communities.


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References

International Council on Women's Health Issues (2007) Available at www.icowhi.org. Accessed on 19 June 2007.

International perspectives (2006) ICN calls for UN to fund a women's agency as an urgent priority. International Nursing Review 53(3): 162.

United Nations (2005) Millennium Development Goals. Available at www.un.org/millenniumgoals. Accessed on 19 June 2007.

World Bank (2007) Economic status of women. Available at
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:
21227023~pagePK:64257043~piPK:437376~theSitePK:4607,00.html
. Accessed on 19 June 2007.

World Health Organization (2003) Available at The World Health Report 2003- shaping the future. Accessed at www.who.int/whr/2003/en/. Accessed on 5 June 2007.



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