Janelle McAlpine MMRes BA (Human Bioscience) BMid
Registered Midwife
Women’s health is an issue of major concern on a global scale. The World Health Organisation recognises the issues and challenges we face and the unique set of circumstances that contribute to each person’s health. These are known as ‘determinants’, and include factors such as income and social status, education, physical environment, employment and working conditions, social support networks, culture, genetics, personal behaviour and coping skills, access to health services, and gender (1).
Men and women face different challenges with living a healthy life, largely due to the general difference in roles of the two genders and the lack of equality when it comes to some of these determinants.
For example, generally speaking; women earn less than men, have less access to education, less employment opportunities, have greater need for access to health services and are more likely to suffer as a result of social seperation and disconnection from culture. Many of these are a direct result of their role in reproduction. Gender inequality is recognised as such a major health issue that the United Nations addressed it in their 2000-2015 Millenium Development Goals as well as the Sustainable Development Goals that followed (2015-2030) (2).
The ten most pressing issues in women’s health around the world are (3):
Cancer
Breast and cervical cancers are responsible for the deaths of half a million women per year each. Most of these deaths occur in low and middle income countries where HPV vaccination, screening, prevention and treatment are almost non-existent.
Reproductive Health
Sexual and reproductive health problems are responsible for one third of health issues for women of reproductive age. Unsafe sex is a major risk factor – particularly in developing countries. 222 million women who aren’t getting the contraception services they need.
Maternal health
While care during pregnancy and childbirth has improved those benefits do not extend everywhere. In 2013, almost 300 000 women died from complications in pregnancy and childbirth. Most of these deaths could have been prevented, had they access to family planning and to skilled birth attendants.
HIV
The majority of new HIV infections are in young women.
Sexually transmitted infections
Untreated syphilis is responsible for more than 200,000 stillbirths and early fetal deaths every year, and for the deaths of over 90,000 newborns.
Violence against women
One in three women under 50 has experienced physical and/or sexual violence by a partner, or non-partner sexual violence – violence which affects their physical and mental health in the short and long-term.
Mental health
Depression is the most common mental health problem for women. Suicide is a leading cause of death for women under 60.
Noncommunicable diseases
In 2012, some 4.7 million women died from noncommunicable diseases before they reached the age of 70. Causes of death included smoking, abuse of alcohol, drugs and substances, diabetes and obesity. More than 50% of women are overweight in Europe and the Americas.
Being young
About 13 million adolescent girls (under 20) give birth every year. Complications from those pregnancies and childbirth are a leading cause of death for those young mothers. Many suffer the consequences of unsafe abortion.
Getting older
Often having been the homemaker, older women may have fewer resources, less access to health care and social services than men. Older women also have a higher risk of abuse and generally poor health.
While some of the determinants of our health are beyond our control, there is plenty we can do to give ourselves the best shot at great health. We can start with education. Educating ourselves about what is normal, what is not and how our body works and the best way we can support our health, whether it be through helping ourselves or seeking help from others. This section covers most of these women’s health issues. Visit each page to find out what you can do to have the best quality of life that you possibly can.
References:
- World Health Organisation http://www.who.int/hia/evidence/doh/en/
- United Nations http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sdgoverview/post-2015-development-agenda.html
- World Health Organisation http://www.who.int/life-course/news/commentaries/2015-intl-womens-day/en/