Sexual/Reproductive Rights
In Pakistan, maternal health facilities and proper reproductive care is not available at the required scale. Many women, especially in rural localities, find themselves at risk due to poor provision and a lack of access to knowledge and health professionals. Low levels of maternal health and nutrition coupled with high fertility rates lead to high mortality and morbidity among mothers and also children, particularly in the rural areas. Pakistan is one of just six nations around the world in which a woman's healthy life expectancy is shorter than man's. In a typical conservative society family planning is seen against their Islamic religion, In case of any medical emergency, when no female doctor available for her help, the orthodox relatives allow her to die rather than to be provided aid by a male doctor. Thousands of woman die per year for not having female doctors in medical facilities.
"Thirty per cent of Pakistani women are pregnant or have given birth by the age of 19, with the percentage higher in rural areas. Among married women aged 15 to 19, only five percent use contraception. Nearly 80% of women under 19 who give birth do so at home, as opposed to a health facility, and the majority of these women rely on traditional attendants to assist them at birth. Adolescents living in rural areas are particularly disadvantaged.
Despite adolescents diverse reproductive health needs, Pakistan does not have a health law or policy focused specifically on young people. Nor does the National Youth Policy address adolescents’ reproductive health needs. Some provisions addressing adolescents are included in the 2002 Population Policy and in the national Reproductive Health Services Package, which includes the - management of reproductive health related problems of adolescents - as one of its nine main components."(Musa, 2013, Para 10-11)Given the variety of circumstances affecting adolescents reproductive health and rights, the government should adopt a more comprehensive approach to meeting the needs of young people.
"Thirty per cent of Pakistani women are pregnant or have given birth by the age of 19, with the percentage higher in rural areas. Among married women aged 15 to 19, only five percent use contraception. Nearly 80% of women under 19 who give birth do so at home, as opposed to a health facility, and the majority of these women rely on traditional attendants to assist them at birth. Adolescents living in rural areas are particularly disadvantaged.
Despite adolescents diverse reproductive health needs, Pakistan does not have a health law or policy focused specifically on young people. Nor does the National Youth Policy address adolescents’ reproductive health needs. Some provisions addressing adolescents are included in the 2002 Population Policy and in the national Reproductive Health Services Package, which includes the - management of reproductive health related problems of adolescents - as one of its nine main components."(Musa, 2013, Para 10-11)Given the variety of circumstances affecting adolescents reproductive health and rights, the government should adopt a more comprehensive approach to meeting the needs of young people.