Tatsaneeya Saiwaew. Women and malarial illness in the context of gender relations : a case study in the Karen community, Kanchanaburi province . Master's Degree(Medical and Health Social Sciences). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2003.
Women and malarial illness in the context of gender relations : a case study in the Karen community, Kanchanaburi province
Abstract:
The objective of this thesis was to study the relationship between malarial illness and gender relations by using socialist-feminist theory. Qualitative research comprised participant observation and in-depth interview methods in a Karen community. Twenty Karen women who visited a malaria clinic were purposively selected as case studies. Another seventy key informants were community leaders, women’s group leaders, health workers, malaria workers, and others.
It was found that there was a relationship between malarial illness and gender- class relations. First, gender relations between men and women of the labor class tended to be equal, and gender relations between men and women of the middle and capitalist classes tended to be unequal, or ones where men have more power than women. Second, as a result of gender and class relations, women experienced different forms of malarial illness. Women of the labor class and the middle class, while the other is that they tended to feel that they already had malaria, and clinically, they really did have malaria. Third, malaria has been linked to gender-class relations in terms of production, reproduction, child-bearing, leisure time, malaria awareness, and roles in the community. Women of the labor class have been protected from malaria by sustainable production, Sustainable reproduction and baby-sitting, but are exposed to malaria by watching television in a risk environment. Women of the middle class have been protected from malaria by reproduction and baby-sitting but have been exposed to malaria by extended production, having less free time and having children with malaria. Women of the capitalist class have been protected from malaria by having less free time, but have been exposed to malaria by extended production and reproduction. An awareness of illness severity prompts women to undergo blood checks more regularly. Roles in the community make no difference to the risk of catching malaria. Simultaneously, gender-class relations should be changed, to achieve equality through a sustainable production system. Woman should be promoted in their roles as healthcare providers through the active participation of health workers in effectively communicating information to mothers and communities about self-help and prevention. Awareness of disease severity should consistently be promoted, to identify patients more quickly and prevent the further spread of disease.