Women's Mental Health in Africa

This volume looks closely at the mental health of women in Africa, a topic that has been virtually unexplored until now. Replete with provocative feminist issues, it examines the economic, physical and social factors that have an impact on the psychological well-being of women in African countries. Feminist researchers unravel the complicated social system and the traditional cultural values and taboos that are directly related to women's self concepts. Because the etiology of women's suicide is central to sexual and reproductive issues, these topics are an important focus of this volume. The contributors discuss the common practices of clitoridectomy and infibulation and the resulting infections, infertility, problems in childbirth and lack of sexual response. AIDS, a disease whose widespread transmission in Africa is directly linked to unprotected heterosexual intercourse, is another issue vital to women's physical and mental health. Several chapters focus on other factors responsible for the perpetuation of the disease, including polygamy; the denial by many African nations of the threat of the disease to its citizens; and the incidence of female genital mutilation, which geographically corresponds to the spread of AIDS in Africa. Marriage, the double standard, infidelity and family planning are also examined as factors in women's mental health.