Factors Influencing Women’s Health in Conflict Zones in Africa

Abstract

This study sought to examine the factors that influence women’s health in conflict zones for the period spanning 1975–2018. The investigation was motivated by the fact that war and violent conflict strain already underdeveloped healthcare systems and frequently put disadvantaged groups—particularly women and children—at risk of being denied access to essential services like healthcare. Living in or close to conflict zones puts women at a higher risk for sexual assault, poor reproductive health, unwanted pregnancy, and poor maternal health outcomes. By destroying infrastructure, food, water, and sanitation systems, armed conflict reduces access to healthcare. The results showed that the remittances and life expectancy have a negative relationship with maternal mortality. Development assistance, the number of refuges, and military expenditure were seen as having a positive relationship with maternal mortality, but no significant relationship was found with either economic growth or internet usage. This calls for new policy and self-care interventions. There is also a need to explore how to maximise the benefits of technology in delivering health interventions to hard-to-reach populations. There is also a need for policymakers to explore how to maximise the benefits of technology in delivering health interventions to hard-to-reach populations.

Keywords

• women
• women’s health
• conflict
• war
• sexual violence