The NGO Acción Por Venezuela and the Venezuelan Observatory for Rural Women point out the lack of health care, especially general and specific medical consultations, among rural women in El Tocuyo. This also affects family planning and prevention of sexually transmitted infections
Health care, especially gynecological consultations, are not part of the priorities of rural women in El Tocuyo (Lara state) due to the prioritization of food and low wages, according to a report of the NGO Action for Venezuela and the Venezuelan Observatory of Rural Women.
According to the study, carried out on 437 women from El Tocuyo during the months of April and May 2022, only 45.77% of those surveyed have attended a medical consultation in the last 12 months, while only 29.06% went to the gynecologist .
35% underwent routine tests, such as blood tests, and 17.39% had blood pressure checked. Regarding gynecological screening, 27.46% had a cytology performed in the last year; 14.42% underwent an abdominal echo; 5.49% have had a breast echo and 3.2% a mammogram.
“These figures indicate the level of risk to which they are exposed to contracting any gynecological disease due to not being able to detect them in time, also considering that the diagnosis of gynecological-obstetric diseases has evolved rapidly and that most disorders of the women’s health can be diagnosed and treated,
according to the pathology they present”, recalled both organizations.
*Also read: SPECIAL | Women and sexual health, crisis from the womb
Family planning and prevention of sexually transmitted infections, related to sexual and reproductive health, also leaves alarming data in this population.
54% of the women surveyed said they did not use any contraceptive method, only 17.16% underwent a tubal ligation; 8.24% use a pill available on the market; 8.24% use an intrauterine device; 5.03% use a condom as a barrier method and 7.54% use other methods (injections and subcutaneous hormonal implant).
Despite the fact that the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is identified as the second cause of death in Venezuelan women, according to the Anticancer Society98.63% expressed not having received the vaccine to prevent it.
Another question consulted by the Observatory responds to the management of menstrual hygiene. Although women have access to water, despite being classified as unsafe for their daily hygiene, the amount that they can regularly buy sanitary napkins, tampons or a menstrual cup drops by half.
96% of the women in El Tocuyo use sanitary towels for their menstruation, although just over half (52.67%) use toilet paper, towels or cloths because they do not have enough money to access these products. Therefore, both organizations urge the State to implement public policies aimed at eradicating menstrual poverty in rural women.
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