Examining Women’s Health Issues among Quechua Speakers in Peru

Abstract

Dramatic urbanization in Latin America is causing an increasing proportion of indigenous groups to migrate from rural areas to urban centers. In Peru, this population is primarily comprised of the Quechua-speaking Indians. The cultural marginalization of Quechua in urban areas has left these communities with limited access to basic services such as health care. Quechua women are disproportionately affected by adverse health outcomes due to their economic dependency on their husbands and lack of Spanish language knowledge. In order to investigate this topic, I brought together information from multiple disciplines, consulting government data, ethnographic studies and social research, and studies conducted on health outcomes. It becomes apparent from this information that Quechua women suffer from high incidences of adolescent pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and domestic violence. These health issues are linked to their traditional beliefs and practices and their economic condition. In order to properly address this issue, it is imperative to increase Quechua translators in medical facilities, allow for greater access to sexual education and contraceptives, and to provide culturally competent care that incorporates both traditional and Western practices.

Citation

Nguyen, J.T. (2015), "Examining Women’s Health Issues among Quechua Speakers in Peru", Enabling Gender Equality: Future Generations of the Global World (Research in Political Sociology, Vol. 23), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 147-153. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0895-993520150000023010