{"id":18495,"date":"2024-03-25T09:15:03","date_gmt":"2024-03-25T09:15:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/interhospi.com\/?p=18495"},"modified":"2024-03-25T13:20:58","modified_gmt":"2024-03-25T13:20:58","slug":"womens-healthcare-is-in-crisis-investment-is-key","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/interhospi.com\/womens-healthcare-is-in-crisis-investment-is-key\/","title":{"rendered":"Women\u2019s healthcare is in crisis: Investment is key"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Women\u2019s healthcare is in crisis: Investment is key<\/h1>\/ in Featured Articles<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/header>\n<\/div><\/section>
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\"Tanya<\/p>\n

By Tanja Brycker<\/strong>, Vice President, Strategic Development, Breast & Skeletal Health and Gynaecological Surgical Solutions, Hologic\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The world faces an emergency in women\u2019s health. New data shows billions of women were untested for life-threatening conditions, emotional health is worsening and nearly 1 billion women are living with physical pain.<\/p>\n

These findings are from the Hologic Global Women\u2019s Health Index<\/a> Year 3 data[i]<\/a>, created by women\u2019s health innovation company, Hologic, in partnership with Gallup. The data highlight just how lacking preventative care, health and safety, and emotional wellness are for women in all regions of the world.<\/p>\n

The report \u2013 one of the largest annual surveys on women\u2019s well-being \u2013 utilizes interviews with more than 147,000 women and men in 143 countries and territories, representing the voices of 97% of the world\u2019s women and girls aged 15 and older. And one thing is clear: women and girls are suffering, and leaders and healthcare providers need to take transformative action to better serve them.<\/p>\n

Despite the global recovery from COVID-19, the Index reveals that women\u2019s health is, at best, stagnant and at worst, deteriorating year on year \u2013 emotional health is getting worse, gaps between rich and poor nations and urban and rural communities continue to grow, and the risk of maternal and foetal mortality is rising. It is only through actions that drive awareness, access, affordability, attitudinal shift and advocacy that we can begin to improve women\u2019s health.<\/p>\n

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When it comes to Europe specifically, while women\u2019s health is relatively strong in some European countries, this year\u2019s Index highlights that important unmet needs remain. For example, many women across the EU aren\u2019t getting tested for potentially life-threatening conditions, have health problems that interfere with normal activities or report feeling worried, stressed or sad.<\/p>\n

The conclusion is clear, countries across Europe and indeed, the world, need to invest in women\u2019s health to drive economic progress and growth, and to ensure women have the best opportunities to live healthier lives.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alarming findings show no improvement in preventive care<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Index, which included interviews with more than 14,000 women in the EU, shows that most women didn\u2019t receive key preventative testing in the past 12 months. This means that billions of women worldwide went untested for conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, cancers, and sexually transmitted diseases or infections (STDs\/STIs).<\/p>\n

In the EU, the Index showed that only 47% of women were tested for high blood pressure, 24% for diabetes and 20% for any type of cancer. With health issues like heart disease and breast cancer being leading illnesses impacting the lives of women, the fact that over half did not receive any preventative testing is inexcusable. These results are staggering alone, but when compared to the previous two reports they become alarming. The EU has seen no improvement in the preventative care dimensions since the first report was published in 2021 during the grip of a pandemic, when preventative testing was essentially put on hold.<\/p>\n

Investments in preventative care today will change lives, support greater development and address longstanding inequities. The technology and innovations to help women live longer, healthier lives are already here, with advancements in mammography, gynaecological treatments, sexual health testing and more. Europe can do better for its communities and economic well-being by providing women the opportunities to be tested for preventative diseases.<\/p>\n

Barriers that keep women from seeking health care<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are many variables at play when it comes to how women take care of themselves, which include food security, emotional health, and safety. These can all be barriers that keep women from seeking preventative care worldwide \u2013 and the EU is no exception.<\/p>\n

The Index, which provides empirical data and is clear in its findings, reveals that 13% of the women interviewed in the EU struggled to afford food in the past 12 months, and that 10% had challenges affording adequate housing. For women who are focused on meeting their individual and family\u2019s basic needs, seeking preventative care or treatments might not be a priority.<\/p>\n

Additionally, overall, many women reported feeling negative emotions during much of the previous day, and globally were 20% more likely to say they experience sadness daily. In the EU, the survey showed that during the previous day, 39% of women felt worried, 34% felt stressed, and 26% felt sad. These findings are particularly important, because negative emotions can become unhealthy and signal more serious conditions such as anxiety and depressive disorders or other mental health diagnoses. These feelings can keep women from seeking help, and there is consistent evidence that a negative emotional state can affect cardiovascular health and heighten risk factors for other noncommunicable diseases with which mental disorders can co-occur, such as diabetes and cancer.[ii]<\/a>,[iii]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

These factors contribute to the low percentage of women being regularly tested for preventable diseases. When addressing the physical well-being of women, governments must take a holistic approach in order to also address the emotional and safety barriers that keep women from accessing care.<\/p>\n

It is time to do better for all women and develop actionable steps to address these issues. To avert an impending crisis, the issues highlighted by the Index report must be addressed in the global arena, such as the World Economic Forum, as well as at the regional and country level.<\/p>\n

Improvement is possible by advancing Awareness, Access and Affordability<\/strong><\/p>\n

Meaningful improvement to women\u2019s health care can be achieved if world leaders, healthcare professionals and advocates improve awareness, access and affordability of healthcare.<\/p>\n

Affordability<\/strong><\/p>\n

Leaders must:<\/p>\n