Health issues, maternal mortality, and cultural limitations

Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain. The World Health Organization (WHO) defined health in its broader sense in 1946 as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." Although this definition has been subject to controversy, in particular as having a lack of operational value and the problem created by use of the word "complete", it remains the most enduring. Health is a positive concept emphasizing social and personal resources, as well as physical capacities. Poor and uninsured women experience some of the worst access problems in the health care system, although they often have the most need because of their generally poorer health status. Across all age groups, there was a high level of depressive symptoms reported, confirming the need for adequate access to mental health-related services and programs to handle stress. Management and coordination of health care for elderly women should be a priority. Younger age groups generally have worse problems with access to care than those in older groups.