Patriarchy and the Risks of STD and HIV Transmission to Women

Abstract

The focus on mother and child health as a key element in Indian health policy evolved out of what was identified as one of the strongest explanatory factors for continued high fertility, viz., the high infant mortality rates. The policy of targeting pregnant women and babies in order to sustain infant survival is likely to come under increasing strain in the coming years, as the pressures of a possible HIV pandemic open up other related issues impinging on women's health.