Women’s Health—Providing Support in Times of Crisis

Women’s rights are the fundamental human rights that were enshrined by the United Nations for every human being on the planet nearly 70 years ago. These rights include the right to live free from violence, slavery, and discrimination; to be educated; to own property; to vote; and to earn a fair and equal wage (Global Fund for Women, 2021). Yet, despite many achievements in the field of women’s health, many struggles remain, both in the United States and abroad. While major changes are taking place in the area of women’s health with a focus on achieving international United Nations declarations and commitments for equality from countries across the globe, there is still much to be done.

The health impact of key women’s health issues (especially when they are dismissed or blatantly ignored) on the lives of women, their children, and their communities is staggering. While women have a longer life expectancy than men in most every country, they don’t necessarily get to enjoy healthier lives. Millions of women suffer from health issues each year throughout the world—preventable health issues that would not affect them if they were men. For example, women are less likely to be screened for heart disease and are more vulnerable to contracting HIV than men. In many countries, they are not provided access to health care, while men are provided that access.

Some of the biggest health crises facing women around the world are listed below. We have also provided just a few ideas about how the issues can be reduced or prevented, and we encourage you to consider taking action in just one of these areas:

• Malnutrition—Malnutrition affects more than two billion people worldwide but affects women especially hard. Women with vitamin deficiencies are more likely to die during childbirth. A malnourished woman is also more likely to deliver a child that has low birth weight, poor brain development, is malnourished, and is likely to experience other health issues for its entire life. In many cultures, women will cut back on their own food during a famine or drought so they can feed their families.

  What Can You Do?

  • Support organizations like the World Food Programme or Action Against Hunger. These organizations help protect food security, reduce nutrition issues, and develop programs to combat gender issues that impact hunger.
  • Support women’s education on every level.
  • Choose foods that do not contribute to climate change and are environmentally sustainable. For example, cattle grazed in the Amazon basin contribute to vast areas of deforestation.
  • Reduce your own food waste and choose to eat smaller portions of food.
  • Find ways to support improved water and sanitation systems and hygiene practices in all communities and in all countries to protect children against communicable diseases.
  
  

• Mental Health Issues—Women are more likely than men to develop depression and anxiety disorders than men. In addition, women are more likely to have lived through an event or experience (such as violent civil conflict, a disaster, an assault, or intimate partner violence) than men. Because of this, their rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be higher than that of men.

  What Can You Do?

  • Stay informed about programs that bring mental health services to areas in need around the world (such as the World Health Organization Mental Health Gap Action Program).
  • Donate to charities (such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness [NAMI]) and community programs that help those with mental health issues.
  • Support global political policies that provide peaceful solutions to conflict. Condemn the use of sexual violence (including rape, sexual slavery, and forced marriage) as weapons of war.
  • Support communities and countries that accept and promote women as public leaders, women’s rights, and the education of girls.
  • Support organizations the increase the number and readiness of experienced personnel, locally and globally, who can deliver sexual and reproductive health services and prevent and respond to gender-based violence.
  • Support global policies that strength accountability in all countries to ensure the rights of girls and women to health and safety.
  
  

• HIV/AIDS—Half of the 35 million people living with HIV/AIDS across the world are women. In areas like sub-Saharan Africa, women can make up more than 60 percent of the HIV/AIDS population. Globally, HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death for women aged 15 to 44 years. Many women are at risk of acquiring HIV from intimate partner violence, or gender violence (including rape). In some countries, up to 45 percent of adolescent girls report that their first sexual experience was forced. In some countries in West and Central Africa, an HIV-positive mother is considered a criminal. Receiving adequate treatment may be nearly impossible. Gender norms greatly impact the spread of HIV. Women are often denied the ability to refuse sex with their partners, they are often raped during armed conflicts, and may lack the resources to seek treatment if they think they are infected. In the U. S., 20% of new HIV infections are contracted by women—primarily via heterosexual contact.

  What Can You Do?

  • Get active with the many international charities that focus on women and HIV, such as SisterLove, Inc., or the Athena Network.
  • Educate women and girls about HIV/AIDS prevention. Support organizations that provide prevention and treatment for girls and women with HIV/AIDS.
  • If you are woman, get screened regularly for all sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including HIV.
  
  

• Breast and Cervical Cancer—The most lethal cancer for women ages 20-59 in the world, breast cancer is increasing among developing countries where is it often diagnosed at too late a stage to receive effective medical treatment. Cervical cancer kills more than 500,000 women each year.

  What Can You Do?

  • Support programs that provide early detection and screening for both breast and cervical cancer.
  • Support programs (such as Breast Health Global Initiative) that find effective ways to treat and diagnose breast cancer in the developing world or the World Cancer Research Fund, which funds research about breast and cervical cancer and advocates for international policies to help women get more effective treatment.
  • If you are woman, get screened regularly for both types of cancer.
  
  

• Cardiovascular Disease—Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of women across the world. Women in lower income countries are more likely to die from the disease than women in higher income countries. For example, women in South Africa who develop heart disease are 150 percent more likely to die from it than women in the United States.

  What Can You Do?

  • Volunteer to raise awareness of the prevalence of heart disease among women at home and abroad.
  • Support physical activity programs for women of all ages and educate women about heart healthy foods and lifestyle habits.
  • If you are woman, get screened regularly for cardiovascular disease risk factors.
  • Eat a healthy diet, avoid tobacco and other illicit drugs, and exercise regularly.
  
  

• Reproductive Health—Sexual and reproductive health issues constitute approximately one-third of all health issues of women between the ages of 15 and 44 years. Unsafe sex is a major risk factor for reproductive diseases, especially for girls and women in developing countries.

  • Approximately 222 million women in developing countries do not have the contraception they need for family planning. This contributes to the more than 74 million unplanned pregnancies and approximately 36 million abortions every year.
  • Each year, 700,000 women die from improperly performed abortions, obtained in unsafe circumstances because of desperation. These procedures are usually performed in areas where abortions are illegal or very difficult to get performed. These areas are also typically where women have little or no access to effective contraception.
  
  

  Helping women take charge of their fertility reduces unsafe abortions and maternal deaths by more than 70 percent and conserves valuable resources that go toward pregnancy-related costs.

  What Can You Do?

  • Support programs (such as the International Planned Parenthood Federation) that promote sexual health services and education to women and men around the world.
  • Support organizations that encourage international policies that promote women’s reproductive health and rights.
  
  

• Domestic (Intimate Partner) Violence—Globally, more than 35 percent of women have been victims of domestic violence (DV). After the abuse stops (if it does), DV victims are at high risk for depression, unintended pregnancy, HIV infections, substance abuse, suicide, long-term physical injuries, and death at the hands of their partner.

  What Can You Do?

  • Get involved with programs like the United Nations’ Unite to End Violence Against Women and the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women.
  • Stand up to bullying, misogynistic behavior, and sexual harassment wherever it is found. Support public and organization policies that advocate for “zero tolerance” of bullying, misogynistic behavior, and sexual harassment.
  • Vote with your wallet. Do not purchase products or services or view programming of companies that are known to ignore women’s rights.
  • Support organizations that support women’s rights in the workplace.
  
  

• Maternal Health—Every year, approximately 500,000 women die from complications of pregnancy—most of them in the developing world. The statistics are even worse in politically unstable or conflict-ridden areas of the world. Even in the United States, 2 to 3 women die from pregnancy complications each day—double the rate of pregnancy-related deaths in the U. S. twenty years ago. Most of these deaths could be prevented if access to family planning and some basic health services would be in place.

  What Can You Do?

  • Support organizations such as the Global Fund for Women or the International Planned Parenthood Federation that educate women about best practices related to pregnancy and childbirth and support pregnant women with necessary health care.
  • Vote and get involved in politics so you can vote for individuals who support a woman’s right to choose.
  
  

Your efforts will make a difference.

References

Glick, H. (2015). 9 key issues affecting girls and women around the world. Retrieved April 1, 2021 from https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/9-key-issues-affecting-girls-and-women-around-the/

Global Fund for Women. (2021). Women’s Human Rights. Retrieved April 1, 2021 from https://www.globalfundforwomen.org/womens-human-rights/

Moss, G. (2015). The 9 biggest health issues facing women today—and how you can help. Retrieved April 1, 2021 from https://www.bustle.com/articles/68053-the-9-biggest-health-issues-facing-women-today-and-how-you-can-help

Osotimehin, B. (2015). We must protect women and girls during crises. Retrieved April 1, 2021 from https://www.devex.com/news/we-must-protect-women-and-girls-during-crises-86385

Phelamei, S. (2016). International Women’s Day: Top 6 health issues every woman must know! Retrieved April 1, 2021 from https://zeenews.india.com/news/health/diseases-conditions/international-womens-day-top-6-health-issues-every-woman-must-know_1863413.html

UN Women. (2018). Facts and figures: HIV and AIDS. Retrieved April 1, 2021 from https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/hiv-and-aids/facts-and-figures

World Health Organization. (2020). Ten top issues for women’s health. Retrieved April 1, 2021 from https://www.who.int/life-course/news/commentaries/2015-intl-womens-day/en/