What are women’s health needs? What is their contribution to the overall health of societies? This report takes stock of the health of women around the world and draws attention to the consequences and costs of failing to address health issues at appropriate points in women’s lives. Addressing women’s health is a necessary and effective approach to strengthening health systems overall – action that will benefit everyone. Consequently, there is an urgent need for more coherent political and institutional leadership, visibility and resources for women’s health.
While the health of girls and women has improved over the past 60 years, the gains have been unevenly spread. In many parts of the world, women’s lives are diminished by preventable illnesses and premature death. Women and men share many similar health challenges, but the differences are such that the health of women deserves particular attention.
There are widespread and persistent health inequities. Some conditions, such as pregnancy and childbirth, which carry health risks and require health care, only affect women. Some health challenges affect both women and men, but have a greater impact on women and require tailored responses. Other conditions affect women and men equally, but women face greater difficulties in accessing the health care they need. Further:
- Inequities exist between high and low-income countries and within countries. Women in high-income countries live longer and are less likely to suffer from ill health. Within countries, the health of women is affected by social and economic factors.
- Sexuality and reproduction are central to women’s health. Their health during the reproductive years is relevant not only to themselves, but also affects the health and development of the next generation.
- Women’s health problems originate in childhood. Poor nutrition, child abuse and neglect are detrimental to physical, social and emotional development.
- Societal bias often deprives women of proper health care. They face higher health costs than men due to their greater use of health care yet are more likely than males to be poor or unemployed.
- Health systems depend on women as health care providers, either as primary health care providers in the family or as providers in the formal and informal health sectors. However, they are under-represented in executive or management level positions.
There is an urgent need for coherent political and institutional leadership, visibility and resources for women’s health. A shared agenda can be developed by policy action in the following areas:
- Identifying mechanisms to foster bold, participatory leadership around a clear and coherent agenda. In doing so, attention should be paid to ensuring gender equality and women’s empowerment.
- Strengthening health systems to improve access, comprehensiveness and responsiveness. This is not just an issue in relation to sexual and reproductive health but is relevant throughout the life course.
- Women’s morbidity and mortality are directly related to societal attitudes towards women. Broader strategies, such as poverty reduction, literacy, training and education will also contribute to making sustainable progress in women’s health.
- Current gaps in knowledge need to be filled and are essential for programme planning and management purposes. This includes reliable statistics on the cause of death, and age and sex-disaggregated data on common health problems.
