Factors affecting women's health in the democratic republic of congo

Conclusion

Since this research is based on Women's Health, it has been stated in the introduction that women are most affected by diseases such as malaria, sexually transmitted diseases, flu and diarrhoea.

Since war is a main factor which gives a gap to a number of factors affecting women's health, armed conflict often leads to a reduction in formal medical or psychological support for home-based care, most of whom are women. Sexual transmitted diseases against women are rampant during the war and have reached epidemic proportions. The risks do not end when the war is officially over; the number of diseases in the community increases with the return of the women back home.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The Ministry of Health needs to focus more on health promotion and health education to sensitise the communities on various issues in health sector that affect their livelihood. In other hand, the ministry should also carry out researches in order to know what are the problems or factors affecting the communities. Through this, the communities will be in position to be treated and aware of what is affecting them.

The Ministry of Health needs to mainstream gender in all sectors by equal participation of both men and women in health promotion. This will help the citizens to work hard in order to improve their health without the ministry intervention.

Butembo Health promoters, NGOs and community development officers have to discuss issues of domestic violence and post traumatic stress symptoms with the people of Butembo district.

District Health Department needs to liaise with other sectors (education, agriculture, water, etc) to work together to promote development issues and to mainstream the three main cross-cutting issues.

The Ministry of health has to implement primary health care services in the zone affected by conflict and in the rural areas.

Conclusion

This chapter gives information on the discussion, conclusion and recommendation whereby various issues such as violence against women, distance and transport to the clinic were raised. Apart from these, factors like war, diseases and number of recommendations are also presented in this chapter.

APPENDICES

APPENDIX i

QUESTIONNAIRE

Background of information

Age: --------------- Sex. : ----------------------

Qualification: -----------------------------------------

Occupation: --------------------------------------------

Marital Status: ----------------------------------------

1. What has been your health since peace came to Butembo?

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2. Did you have any major health problems over the last few years related to the war?

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3. What did you do to get back to good health?

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4. Do you decide yourself if you need to attend the doctor?

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5. What influences you to attend the doctor?

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6. What are the major problems you face in seeking health care?

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7. What in your opinion could solve these problems?

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8. Did you stay in Butembo or did you flee? If yes ask for :(b)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If no ask for

(a)---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

9. a. What were the health services like when you returned to Butembo?

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9. b. What were the health services like during the conflict?

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10. What in your opinion can improve the health services offered to you in Butembo?

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11. What kind of measures do you take to maintain good health?

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APPENDIX ii

TIME FRAME

TIME	ACTIVITY	RESULTS AT THE END
1^st Week of Research (May 2007)	Seeking permission from authority team leaders and getting familiar to the place.	Permission got
2^nd Week of Research (Jun 2007)	Collecting data from selected sample.	Data collected ready for analysis
3^rd Week of Research (October 2007)	Computing and analyzing of data	Data ready for drafting
4^th Week of Research (November 2007)	Drafting the research book	Final draft ready

APPENDIX iii

THE MAP OF D.R. CONGO SHOWING THE LOCATION OF BUTEMBO TOWN WITH ARROW (Uganda side)

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http://uk.oneworld.net/guides/uganda/development