Obstetric and gynecological care for Third World women

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Abstract
The particular characteristics which women's health care in the Third World should have as compared with the situation in developed countries is discussed. Women in the Third World present a different prevalence of specific pathologies, give less attention to symptoms and to preventive measures, and the health system is usually not well adapted to respond to those characteristics. Examples of the difference between the needs of health care of Third World women compared to developed countries are taken from pre-natal care, prevention of cancer of the cervix and family planning. A critical analysis of the prevalent characteristics of present women's care in the Third World was done. Accordingly, some basic points to be considered in the implementation of women's health care for the Third World were proposed: avoid the uncritical replication of developed country's models to solve developing countries' health problems; application of a larger proportion of the resources to primary health care; a more aggressive attitude to increase preventive behavior, trying to maintain a continuous and not sporadic contact between the health system and the target population; great attention to reference and contra-reference to improve the integration of the various levels of the health system; delegation of functions from physicians to paramedical personnel; emphasis on health education, both formal and in the day-to-day contact between health agents and target population.