Women's health in a changing world. A continuous challenge.

There is reason to pay extra attention to women's health. Not only do complications related to reproduction pose risks to women's health; environmental, in particular cultural factors do so as well. The combination of sexual and economic subordination of women in many societies leads to discrimination which has a detrimental effect on the health of women, starting at birth. Violence against women has only recently been recognized as a worldwide problem. Over the past 20 years research and action at all levels have contributed to a better understanding of these problems, and more appropriate identification of interventions to tackle them.