How poverty and the low status of women
worked together to cause Mira’s death
Mira and her family were poor, so she was forced to marry
and start having sex when she was very young. As a woman,
she lacked power in her relationship with her husband. She had
no control over when and how many children to have, or over
her husband’s relationships with other women. Her family’s
poverty meant that she suffered from poor nutrition her whole
life, which weakened her body and left her more at risk for
disease.
Although Mira’s community lacked health services, the
nearest health center did have some women’s health services,
like family planning and information about preventing HIV. But
the health workers had no information or training about other
women’s health problems, even such serious ones as cancer
of the cervix. They did not know how to do a pelvic exam (to
look at the vagina, cervix and other reproductive parts) or a
Pap test. So even if Mira had gone for medical care sooner, the
health worker would not have been able to help her.
As a result, Mira had to travel a long distance at great cost to
see a doctor who could tell her what was wrong. By that time
it was too late.
Finally, Mira’s country was poor, with little money to
spend on health care. Like the governments of many poor
countries, her government chose to focus on other important
health services, but not on women’s health. What money her
government did spend on women’s health went to expensive
hospitals in the big city instead of community health programs
that women like Mira can get to. This meant that the services
to find and treat cervical cancer—and many other women’s
health problems—early were not available.
Poverty and the low status of women worked against Mira
at all 3 levels—in her family, in her community, and in her
country—to create the health problem that caused her death.
Mira’s Story 11
➤ You can explore
the root causes of
Mira’s death or other
health problems by
using the excercise
called “But Why?” on
page 26.
These are some of the links in the chain of causes
that led to Mira’s death. They are the same links
that cause many of women’s health problems.
Where Women Have No Doctor 2012