Nasw Code Of Ethics In Social Work

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About 830 women died everyday in 2015 (WHO, 2015) (4) due to complications of pregnancy and childbirth occurring in low-resource settings most of which could have been prevented. The risk of maternal mortality is 33 times higher in a developing country as compared to a developed country.
Alma Ata Declaration 1978 “Health for All” and Universal Health Coverage focused upon making health care services available to all without any discrimination on the basis of one’s sex, religion, caste, class, age and other such parameters. Taking health care to the remotest and far flung areas is one of the prime challenges which the Indian public health system is facing since independence. Availability, accessibility and affordability are the prime concerns …show more content…

Relevant to social work practice, research and policy, “Reproductive Health” is no exception. Code of ethics for social workers as laid down by The National Association of Social Work (NASW) requires social workers to respect a client’s right to self determination, including making individual health decisions. NASW Policy Statement on Family Planning and Reproductive Health highlighted that social work profession supports client’s rights to choose how, when and if to reproduce and raise a family through access to family planning services, including abortion. Jayasundara et al. (2009) suggested that reproductive health as a field of study should be brought in the forefront of social work practice than being at a backburner. Social work as a discipline within human services is an enabling professions which enables individual, communities and families to cope up ad solve their problems using a multi-disciplined approach. Social Justice and empowerment as one of the prime tenants of social work, inclusion of reproductive rights and policy and gender mainstreaming are important. Relevance and implications to social work exemplify how practice, research and policy are informed by these