Upcoming Events

The use or misuse of hysterectomy has emerged as a pressing public health and women’s rights issue in India.  National data indicate that hysterectomy is widely conducted amongst young women and appears to be used as a permanent treatment for common gynecological ailments, particularly in some rural areas. Researchers, advocates, journalists and policymakers have worked for years to understand what drives unnecessary hysterectomy and how to address its apparent causes: society’s view of women’s bodies and menstruation, limited health system options for non-maternal health concerns and economic/labor insecurities.  Dr. Desai will share insights from ongoing research on hysterectomy in India and reflect on: implications for sexual and reproductive health priorities; applying feminist epidemiology in practice; and how the confluence of evidence, community movements and partnerships has influenced policy change.