VitaminsWomen and the state of Healthcare

Women and the state of Healthcare

Women's health and access to basic healthcare is a global issue, one that challenges us all, now and well into this century.

With the Internet women around the world are educating and empowering themselves with regards to their health and that of their families.
It is clear in all cultures and societies that the health of women and children is directly related to the social, religious, economic and political forces which shape their societies.

In western cultures technology plays an important role in women's healthcare, but the biggest impact has come about through the many social changes which have taken place in the last century.

Difficult as it may be for many to believe but less than 100 years ago American, and most European women were not allowed to vote.
It was only in the 1920s that they were granted that right and then only after many years of demonstration by the brave women of that time.

Less than 50 years ago a woman in the US could not get a doctor to perform a tubal ligation without written consent from her husband.

Although we have come a long way since the 1960s the US remains a mainly male dominated society and although more and more women are entering the political arena and helping to shape legislation which impacts them and their children, they are still very much out numbered by their male counterparts.

A little History

Up until the 18th century the most frequent cause of death in western societies especially among infants and children was infectious diseases. As improvements in sanitation, clean water, sewage disposal and pasteurization of milk products were made there was a dramatic increase in the overall health and life expectancy of the population, although there was very little change in the practise of medicine until the 1930s when the first antibiotic was produced. This discovery began a whole new era in medicine.

The upheaval of the1960s brought about the beginnings of many positive changes for women, Women demanded the same pay for doing the same work as men. They demanded more freedom and control over their own reproductive system and the birth control pill was born.
The program WIC (women infants and children) was brought about in the 1960s. It was designed to provide essential food items to impoverished pregnant women and their children and has made a major positive impact in the nutritional status and wellbeing of these groups.

In the US women have historically been excluded from medical studies, with the consequence that treatments and medication doses prescribed for many chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease are likely to be based on studies involving only men.
The 1990s began to address this and Women's Health Research was founded.
Also being addressed are, violence towards women, women's wellness and access or lack of access to healthcare.

A few statistics from USDHHS year 2000

Expenditures for healthcare in the US exceeded $1trillion and continue to rise
Americans spend more than twice as much per person for healthcare than people in other industrialized countries.
Despite the above
The Infant mortality rate is higher than in 21 other developed countries, the rate being highest amongst low income and minority groups.

Violence, substance abuse, unplanned pregnancy are cited as being epidemic and it is agreed by most experts that a major restructuring of the healthcare system must take place, the challenge. how to do this. The debate continues.

If you find this type of topic to be of interest please feel free to start a discussion about it and/or other social issues in the forum.