Post-Conflict Health Care: Women's Lives After Conflict

In post-conflict societies many essential resources have been destroyed. Opposing forces, to weaken their opponents, often target health facilities. Along with the scarcity of hospitals, many specialists are displaced. This causes instability for civilians, affecting women disproportionately. Women are vulnerable post-conflict due to increased sexual violence during and after conflict, an increase of women living in poverty or as refugees, and a need for maternal health assistance. Studies focus on the issues of healthcare for women during conflict, but the lack of accessibility continues post-conflict, which is the subject of this work. This research will focus on previous academic work, along with personal accounts and interviews from experts to explore the post-conflict issues of healthcare for women. Post-conflict situations in Rwanda, Sri Lanka and Somalia are emphasized. In these countries, a lack of healthcare followed conflict, affecting the maternal, reproductive and psychological health of women. Sexual violence and maternal health increases the need for health facilities, while education can influence women to seek healthcare. Each country and its own post-conflict circumstances have diverse complications. The purpose of this project is to raise awareness about post-conflict healthcare access and examine case studies to understand the challenges that are unique to each setting.