Women Health in the Americas

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

The aim of this course is to explore the ways in which women’s health is presented in the Americas and especially in Brazil, the most populated country in Latin America, with an estimated 215 million inhabitants. A brief history of women’s health will include maternal mortality; precariousness of obstetric care; abortion under risky conditions; the particularity of health for black, lesbians, indigenous women; sexually transmitted infection, HIV and AIDS; women with chronic diseases and gynecological cancer. This course will bring awareness to the historical contexts, such as: the Brazilian health system since 1500 until the nineteenth center; the military dictatorships; the new constitution in 1988; the creation of SUS – the Brazilian public health system; the National Broad Health Policy for women and National Broad Health Policy for, lesbians, gays, bisexual and transsexuals. Particular attention will be paid to gender and sexual violence in Brazil, including: the national policy to combat violence against women; legal abortion for pregnancy after rape and conscientious objection to legal abortion. No knowledge of Brazilian language (Portuguese) is required.