Abstract
Citizenship in Brazil guarantees the right to the highest attainable standard of health. The shared commitment of government and civil society to human rights has mobilized coordination between policy development and implementation, resulting in the progressive improvement of national health outcomes. Despite the success of health programs in strengthening prevention and treatment services, the political economy of Brazil has compromised public health performance. The existing structural and ideological forces have intensified social inequalities and lessened opportunities for individual and collective advancement. This paper explores the formation of a unified public health system based on human rights principles and the ability of national health policies to address women’s health issues. It further examines the influence of social and cultural perceptions of gender norms on women’s ability to exercise sexual and reproductive health rights. The recommendations are aimed at the government to encourage it to address its responsibility to increase the availability, accessibility and quality of health care provisions. I propose a gender-based perspective in reducing health inequity for women in relation to the economic and social disparities in Brazil. By increasing participatory processes and creating effective mechanisms to evaluate, assess, and monitor policy, improvements will be made in standards of living and the well being of individuals. If these changes are implemented, Brazilian women can benefit from their citizenship and fully realize sexual and reproductive health rights.