Women's health care: rights and responsibilities

We recently participated in efforts to implement community-based women's health programs in regions of the world that are undergoing broad reforms as one form of government is replaced by another. In the course of these activities, we have had reason to review the rich and voluminous literature on the pivotal contributions by patients, providers, and society that result in optimal health for women. This article reflects our perspective of that literature and a framework to achieve that goal.