Maternal mortality. This week we focused on the issue of maternal mortality and HIV. We created a case study on this topic. The issue is that there is no real way to account for the number of pregnancy-related deaths caused by HIV as they are often marked and recorded as being hemorrhage, or preeclampsia, or a myriad of other pregnancy-related complications. It is difficult to raise attention and awareness to an issue that is under-accounted for or even unaccounted for.

Discrimination. While the right to equality is guaranteed by Article 14 of the Constitution of India, this guarantee is often missing in practice. Discrimination based on gender is prevalent in India, and inline with the topic we are working on here in India, so is discrimination against those whose are HIV positive. Women are turned away from health care institutions due to their status and forced to deliver babies on their own. This increases the risk of maternal mortality and also of parent-to-child transmission. Furthermore, not only is gender discrimination an issue for positive persons and maternal mortality, but also a woman is diagnosed as HIV positive she is often considered “the source of the infection, regardless of whether she is a victim herself.” (Reference: Lalitha Sridhar, “Gender norms worsen AIDS scenario”, December 2003). In 2009, discrimination against women and against persons with HIV/AIDS is rampant. HIV/AIDS advocates proclaim that it will take decades just to reduce the stigma attached to HIV/AIDS in India (Reference: Quote from Anvish Jolly, HIV/AIDS advocate, United Nations India from Kaiser Family Foundation, “More Effort Needed to Address HIV/AIDS-related Stigma in India, Advocates Say”, January 2009).

Life. Since I’ve discussed mortality in this blog, perhaps it is an appropriate time to discuss life. Life in India is fascinating, challenging, and beautiful. There is more to write on this, but at this time I will keep it simple and short stating only that life in India is “fascinating, challenging, and beautiful.”