Global women's health: progress toward reducing sex-based health disparities

The list includes maternal mortality, obstetric fistulas, female genital cutting, HIV/AIDS, malaria in pregnancy, and cervical cancer. Because these girls and women have less ac- cess to education and employment and are societally encouraged to marry early and bear many children, they suffer from higher rates of illiteracy, fertility, morbidity, and mortality. The Millennium Development Goals In 2000, the United Nations established 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)2: eradicating extreme poverty and hunger; achieving universal primary edu- cation; promoting sexual equality and empowering women; reducing child mortality rates; improving ma- ternal health; combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases; ensuring environmental sustainability; and developing a global partnership for development (1 ).