Final Reflection Concerning Women's Health

As I conclude New Dimensions in Women's Health, there were several topics that had an impact on my opinions of women both within the United States and globally. Of the topics that had the most impact, reviewing women as sex slaves, in present times, in Europe and Asia was astonishing. The topic was distressing knowing women are treated with such cruelty and most are unaware they are being sold.

Another topic that had a profound effect was the fact that in several countries in Asia there are those who actually approves of aborting female daughters even in the latter stages of pregnancies. A fellow student displayed pictures regarding an aborted female child, which appeared full term. Learning such practices continue today due to husbands wanting male children, gives pause to know there is a need to advocate for women's rights globally.

After reviewing A Powerful Noise, it became apparent, women are making powerful differences in how females are treated globally. Teaching young females how to read and learn various skills to increase their income, HIV infected women spreading information regarding prevention and women organizing themselves after the Bosnian War should, in my opinion, be awarded with the highest honors . Such wonderful changes in women's health, affords me the opportunity to attempt to make a difference as well. I applaud every woman who make a difference in women and girls' lives.

I am now more interested in traveling abroad to aid in ending female genital mutilation and to promote wellness globally.

Cry Freedom! No More FGM

Cry Freedom! No More FGM

Please click on the yellow link titled Cry Freedom! No More FGM to view the video.
Warning! Pictures may be very shocking. Please view with caution.

Female Genital Mutilation

As I studied global health, more information was researched on the violent act of female genital mutilation. It is unfortunate more females are punished for having feminine parts they were born with. Frowned upon if specific parts remain, females are not desirable to marry and are considered a disgrace by their families; therefore, many villages still practice female genital mutilation or female genital cutting. I would describe it more so as female genital gutting. There is nothing humane about the treatment so many helpless and frightened girls who have been known to be gutted at ages as young as two weeks of age to 16 years of age (Skolnik, 2008).

More often than not, the girls are tricked into believing there is a surprise awaiting them. Upon being lured into an unsanitary area of the village or on the ground, they are forced to be extremely still and not to make a sound while either broken glass, an unsanitary knife or razor is used to remove any exterior feminine parts to her vagina to include the clitoris, labia major and minor and in some cases she is sewn with needles and thread to prevent her from micturating properly (Skolnik, 2008). After this horrible event, the female may cry uncontrollably, bleed excessively, become infected, go into shock, or hemorrhage to death (Skolnik, 2008). This is how she honors her family!

I have put together a link created by myself to express the horrors of female genital mutilation.
This short clip was prepared while taking global health at the Texas Woman's University (TWU).





Skolnik, R. (2008). Women's health. In R. Riegelman. Essentials of global health.
(pp. 147-166). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.

Is There Strength in Confessions?

In order for someone to improve their health, would it not make sense to express their weakness for drugs or alcohol? Is that not the most difficult and significant step in recovery (Alexander, LaRosa, Bader, Garfield & Alexander, 2010)? I am of an opinion, a person has greater strength to seek help when an issue is beyond his or her control rather than allow the problem to control every aspect of their lives. Condoning neither the use of alcohol nor drug use, I would, however feel self-righteous judging another human due to his or her weakness for drugs or alcohol.

My decision was decidedly made while at the age of 6 years, during a conversation with my uncle. As he expressed that he would soon die due to cirrhosis of the liver, simply asked me not to smoke or drink. He expressed it may one day save my life. I thank him for the advice. I now share it with my children and my hope is that they will do the same.

There are children as young as 8 years of age who are smoking; consequently, smoking appears to be difficult to commence and even more difficult to relinquish (Alexander, LaRosa, Bader, Garfield & Alexander, 2010). The tobacco companies are making billions of dollars annually and have not been shut down nor have places such as alcohol breweries been closed permanently. We also have pharmaceutical companies distributing medications which have more negative side effect than positive required results. This vicious cycle is also causing significant damage to men, women and children.

I believe we must first admit our country has a problem with alcohol and tobacco companies selling and distributing harmful substances, which are destroying its people. How are we to teach children not to indulge in such activities when there are cigarettes and alcohol at or near the checkout counters in local supermarkets? Substances such as these are forever within our view thus, within the view of our younger generation and our children.

It appears we are fighting a battle we were never intended to win.
Is it a sign of weakness if a person confesses he or she has an issue with alcohol or drug use? No, it is a sign of weakness to sell and distribute such items to our people.

Alexander, L.L., LaRosa, J. H., Bader, H., Garfield, S., & Alexander, W. J. (2010).
Substance Abuse. In S. Goldberg, A.L. Bloom, & K. Hoover (Eds.), New Dimensions in Women's Health, (5th Ed.) (pp. 362-396). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.

Hope for Early Prevention May Begins Early in Live

I once wrote a children's book regarding new mothers and a place called, "It Takes A Village."
In this place new mothers were brought together in a gym type setting where there is a room specifically for nursing mothers, a grandparent's room to read stories to little children of new mothers and fathers, a relaxation room for new mothers to receive much needed spa and massage treatments along with manicure and pedicures. For the fathers, there is a room for new fathers where there are large individual leather,reclining, massage chairs with wireless headphones and a storage area for infant needs and of course, remotes so they may watch their favorite sports shows quietly while assisting with their children by way of holding sleeping infants. In "It Takes A Village" there were at least five doctors on staff and at least ten nurses. There are state and national required parenting classes, nutrition classes, wellness classes, and exercise classes which include yoga, Pilates, swimming and weight training which is all done as a group.

As my story continued, it revealed how such an environment may improve the health outcomes of new mothers, fathers and children. This also improves the mental and physical health of families as a whole and not single new mothers out with messages that say they must be set apart from everyone in society because they had children. In my story, the government realized the importance of nurturing and care early in life and "It Takes A Village" began to spread across America and throughout the world. Mental health counsellors were available to new mother, fathers and children to explain the importance of family and changes that takes place when a new child comes into a family. Above all, it was free.

I now believe more information need to be brought to light about mental health and its affect on society. I now believe more information is needed to combat the stigma of mental illness. Though more information is required, and while this particular book is fiction, I believe every amount of information on mental illness need to be taught as early as middle school so we may be well informed on how to best deal with the issue of mental illness.

Osteoporosis--The Silent Chronic Disease--Take Care of Your Bones

Alexander, LaRosa, Bader, Garfield & Alexander, (2010), express "osteoporosis is an age-related, debilitating disorder characterized by general decrease in bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue. Unfortunately, Mrs. O., age 59, has first hand experience with this debilitating disease. After asking permission to interview her, she happily agreed to do so. With an improved attitude, she began to explain the trials of osteoporosis.

After listening to her account of having donor bone replacement, which is removing her brittle bones and replacing them with healthy bones from a donor, she expressed she felt terrible and happy because a donor was available (Mrs. O., 2010). However, after less than a year, the healthy bones from the donor did not hold well and had to be removed. She expressed the disappointment and difficulties in having to be told she need more surgery. Mrs. O., expressed that having two total hip replacements after having donor bones to replace the brittle bones had been more effective in dealing with osteoporosis (Mrs., O., 2010).

Upon her doctor's diagnosis, which he explained to her that her only option would be to have two total hip replacements with titanium metal with both hips, Mrs. O became depressed and withdrawn towards her family and friends (Mrs. O, 2010). Her daughter stepped in the decided she needed a vacation and took her to Disney World for fourteen days for rest, fun and relaxation in order to prepare for the surgeries which she will always be grateful for (Mrs. O, 2010). Mrs. O underwent physical therapy for nearly three years and is now walking and is happy to not use a wheel chair as much as she once depended constantly. She remarked that after more than five years, she still finds walking most interesting (Mrs. O., 2010).

Part of Mrs. O's regiment includes milk, calcium, and Vitamin D along with other vegetables that are high in calcium. She attempts to exercise as much as she can and rests as often as possible. Mrs. O reminds me to make sure I take care of my bones. She also expresses that more women should not take their bones for granted. She encourages people in general to stop sitting around and to exercise and eat properly. Though she detests whole milk, she has found lactose free milk suites her just fine (Mrs. O, 2010).

References
Alexander, L.L., LaRosa, J.H., Bader, H., Garfield, S., & Alexander, W. J. (2010). Other chronic
diseases and conditions. In S. Goldberg & A. L. Bloom (Eds.), New dimensions in
women's health. (pp. 309-331). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett

Mrs. O (personal communication, November, 6, 2010)

To Marry or Not To Marry. That is the Question!

"Cardiovascular Disease is a group of diseases that include major categories: disease of the heart and cerebrovascular disease (primarily stroke)" (Alexander, LaRosa Bader, Garfield & Alexander, 2010). It is the leading cause of death for women with any ethnic group.
Unfortunately, according to Health Care for Women International, (2005), lone mother are at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease than married mothers. Several factors for heart disease include social status, race, decreased financial status, number of children and being single parents apparently, have more negative effects on a woman health.

Lone mothers are more likely to use Medicad, food stamps and not have enough to eat. Lone mothers are also more likely to be frowned upon in society for having children and not being married. The stress of such views may cause undo stress to plague lone mothers. With this stress, lone mothers are more likely to overeat, smoke and have an increased consumption of alcohol (WCWI, 2005). Because of such habits and behaviors, more lone mothers have reported twice the rate of arthritis, diabetes, hypertension, and 3.5 times more likely to be very obese (WCWI, 2005). However, lone mother were more likely to be more active than partnered mothers.

After reviewing the information regarding women and CVD, it is appalling to know women in general whether married or unwed are at risk for a disease that is the leading cause of death among women. It appears our hearts are suffering greatly due to our gender. We are at risk for having silent heart attacks and doctors are less likely to take precautions for our heart health than they are of men's heart health. It is apparent that when we say our hearts are broken, we literally mean it.

Women, we owe ourselves the pleasure of taking care of our hearts whether married or unmarried. With diet, exercise and having close knit relationships with our families and sisterhood, we may be able to withstand our hearts being stressed. We must become a united front against heart disease and win the battle by taking care of or hearts.

Alexander, L.L., LaRosa, J. H., Bader, H., Garfield, S., & Alexander, W.J. (2010). Understanding
and preventing cardiovascular disease and cancer. In S. Goldberg, A. L. Bloom &
K. Hover (5th ed.)(Eds.),New Dimensions in Women's Health(pp. 264-307).
Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
Health Care for Women International. (2005). Lone mothers are at higher risk for
cardiovascular disease compared with partnered mothers. Data from national health and
nutrition examination survey III (NHANSES III)(WCW 26(7) Publication No. 67611).
doi: 10.1080/07399330591004845