Assignment on Women’s Health: Situation Analysis and Recommendations

Task Two. General Health and Population Indicators for Females in your assigned country

In this individual assignment, you are asked to imagine that you are supporting public health decision- making at the Ministry of Health of your assigned country. You have been asked to contribute technical assistance to a Women’s Health action plan. You are asked to prepare a detailed situation analysis describing basic health indicators and population dynamics related to Women’s Health. From this you are asked to draft recommendations towards addressing the health issue in the coming years. Total marks = 25.

1. Using full sentences, please provide a brief overview of your assigned country, including its geographic location, income group (based on World Bank classification), and population. Report on the top 3 causes of DALYs overall (both sexes combined) and for females specifically. As part of your overview, please also name two things that the country is known for that are of interest to you and why (this can be sports, music, food, literature, politics, art, or anything that you learned about the country that you found interesting). (maximum 150 words) (5 points)

a. In Project One, you summarized key population indicators in your assigned country. Return to that data to complete the following table (3 points)What proportion of the country is female aged 15 years and above?                
b. What proportion of the country is female aged 15-44 years?                
c. What is the total fertility rate (include the proper units)?                
d. What is the maternal mortality rate (include the proper units)?        
e. What is the SDG target for MMR in your country?        
f. What is the contraceptive prevalence rate (include proper units)?

2. Summarize these data in terms of any shifts in demographics and health indicators on the horizon that are important for planning for action on women’s health (maximum 150 words) (5 points)

Women’s health is closely linked with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3, regarding “"Good Health and Well-being”. Of the 13 SDG3 targets, the first nine are "outcome targets" to be achieved by 2030. Each of these targets are linked to women’s health. We have discussed these targets across the various lectures in this course.

1. Focusing on SDG Target 3.1 Maternal mortality, what are the two indicators for this target? (1 point)

2. For your country, what is the progress on each of these two indicators? Is your country on track to meet Target 3.1 by 2030? Why or why not? (maximum 150 words) (5 points)

Full sentences describing progress on each indicator; Accurately answers question regarding being on track to meet Target 3.1 by 2030 and the reasons.  -0.5 each inaccurate characterization of indicators, comparisons, -0.5 over 250 words; -0.25 for missing references, missing units. 

The COVID-19 pandemic is a threat to the progress of SDG 3, including women’s health. The public health response necessary to limit transmission has forced many disruptions in healthcare delivery of other services, including child vaccination, access to contraception, and access to pregnancy and labour services. The pandemic has also led to overloading and overcrowding of health facilities and some people avoided healthcare services for fear of being infected.[ https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(20)30189-4/fulltext#coronavirus-linkback-header] 

1.Focusing on maternal mortality, please use your findings from Tasks One through Three as well as data from your COVID-19 Knowledge Translation assignment to describe how the COVID-19 pandemic might affect the two indicators of Target 3.1 (maternal mortality) in your assigned country. (maximum 150 words). (3 points)

Marking rubric: Points (3): Full sentences describing how the COVID-19 pandemic may affect the two indicators; integrates data from previous Tasks and the COVID-19 assignment. Accurately answers question and provides supporting evidence. -0.5 each inaccurate characterization of indicators, comparisons, -0.5 over 250 words; -0.25 for missing references, missing units. 

2.Using this information alongside content in the lectures, discussion groups, assigned readings, and your own research, please offer and describe one recommendation for immediate action towards meeting Target 3.1 during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The area of action should be well-justified, based on evidence, and context specific.  (maximum 150 words). (3 points).

Full sentences describing recommendation for action; Accurately answers question and provides supporting evidence. -0.5 each inaccurate characterization, unsupported recommendations, not contextualized, not well justified;  -0.5 over 250 words; -0.25 for missing