Women’s Health and Primary Care

For the past decade, women’s and family health, particularly family planning and maternal and child health, has been central to GHPC’s work

Despite considerable progress over the past three decades, critical challenges remain in expanding access to quality maternal, neonatal, and child health services, including voluntary family planning services. An estimated 214 million women of reproductive age in developing regions have an unmet need for modern contraception. Funding for U.S. programs has been threatened in recent years. With an expanding youth population in Sub-Saharan Africa, there is an urgent need to address the needs of women and children. Further, adolescent girls and young women in southern Africa are acutely at risk for HIV infection, which has a dramatic and negative impact on their health and families.

Featured Project

The CSIS Task Force on Women’s and Family Health

Between October 2015 and March 2017, the CSIS Global Health Policy Center convened the high-level, bipartisan Task Force on Women’s and Family Health. The Task Force was composed of a diverse group of opinion leaders, drawn from industry, advocacy organizations, members of Congress, foreign policy experts, and the media. The Task Force examined what has been done, what has worked, and what must be improved to have sustainable and effective programs in family planning and reproductive health; maternal, newborn, and child health; nutrition; and immunizations. In its final report, it generated a bold vision for a major U.S. initiative to unlock the potential of adolescent girls and young women in select low-income countries. For additional information on the Task Force, visit vision2017.csis.org.

Experts

Katherine E. Bliss

Katherine E. Bliss

Senior Fellow and Director, Immunizations and Health Systems Resilience, Global Health Policy Center
Janet Fleischman

Janet Fleischman

Senior Associate (Non-resident), Global Health Policy Center

All Women’s Health and Primary Care Content

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The Unrealized Promise of HPV Vaccination

Expanding global vaccination against the human papillomavirus is not only a long-term strategic investment in the fight against cervical cancer, but also an opportunity to strengthen life course immunization and contribute to the defense against future pandemic threats.

Commentary by Michaela Simoneau — October 12, 2022

Gender-Responsive Programming to Improve Immunization Services

Historically, global immunization efforts have been largely gender-blind, but decreasing global immunization coverage, coupled with greater focus on reducing inequitable access to immunizations, have inspired new efforts to reduce gender-related barriers to services.

Commentary by Katherine E. Bliss and Alicia Carbaugh — July 20, 2022

Promoting Primary Health Care during a Health Security Crisis

Given the important role primary health care (PHC) has played in strengthening health systems, taking steps now to prioritize PHC can help ensure continuity of health services and a more effective outbreak response in future health crises and pandemics.

Report by Katherine E. Bliss — April 29, 2022

Advancing the National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality

The Biden administration is seeking to reinvigorate U.S. global leadership on gender equity and equality. It is time to assess what is necessary to propel this significant gender initiative to the next stage and deliver results.

Commentary by Janet Fleischman — March 31, 2022

Prioritizing MNCH Services in the Covid-19 Pandemic and Beyond

Since 2020 women’s access to antenatal services has been down in low- and lower-middle-income countries. Despite the challenges to MNCH posed by the pandemic, adaptations and innovations have opened new opportunities for strengthening families’ access to health services.

Commentary by Katherine E. Bliss and Smita Baruah — January 18, 2022

Making Gender a Primary Focus of Global Health Security

The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing gender inequalities around the world, disrupting access to primary health services. Women and girls must be at the center of future global health security initiatives.

Commentary by Janet Fleischman — March 19, 2021