TY - JOUR AU - Murembe, Neema AU - Kyomuhangi, Teddy AU - Manalili, Kimberly AU - Beinempaka, Florence AU - Nakazibwe, Primrose AU - Kyokushaba, Clare AU - Tibanyendera, Basil AU - Brenner, Jennifer L. AU - Turyakira, Eleanor PY - 2021 DA - 2021/01/07 TI - Context matters in understanding the vulnerability of women: perspectives from southwestern Uganda JO - Archives of Public Health SP - 4 VL - 79 IS - 1 AB - Vulnerability at the individual, family, community or organization level affects access and utilization of health services, and is a key consideration for health equity. Several frameworks have been used to explore the concept of vulnerability and identified demographics including ethnicity, economic class, level of education, and geographical location. While the magnitude of vulnerable populations is not clearly documented and understood, specific indicators, such as extreme poverty, show that vulnerability among women is pervasive. Women in low and middle-income countries often do not control economic resources and are culturally disadvantaged, which exacerbates other vulnerabilities they experience. In this commentary, we explore the different understandings of vulnerability and the importance of engaging communities in defining vulnerability for research, as well as for programming and provision of maternal newborn and child health (MNCH) services. SN - 2049-3258 UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-020-00523-x DO - 10.1186/s13690-020-00523-x ID - Murembe2021 ER -