The global ranking of women’s health has raised concerns as the U.S. dropped seven places, now sitting at 30th place alongside Kazakhstan and Mauritius.
Hologic Inc., a leading women’s health innovation company, partnered with Gallup to create a health index that sheds light on the urgent need for attention to women’s health. The index reveals that billions of women worldwide are going untested for life-threatening conditions, painting a worrisome picture. Furthermore, the emotional well-being of women has worsened since the peak of the pandemic.
The latest edition of the index, set to be released at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland today, serves as a wake-up call to prioritize improvements in women’s health. Hologic CEO, Stephen MacMillan, emphasizes the alarming nature of the findings.
To compile the index, Hologic conducted interviews with over 147,000 individuals in 143 countries and territories. The data, collected in 2022 and analyzed in 2023, provides insights into preventive care, emotional well-being, opinions about health and safety, as well as basic needs like housing and individual health.
It is imperative that we address the pressing issues revealed by this comprehensive study. By recognizing the urgency and taking action, we can work towards a healthier future for women worldwide.
Women’s Health Report
According to Hologic’s report on the index findings, women globally have not seen any improvements in five dimensions of health over the past three years. In fact, in several key areas, women’s health has actually declined.
The survey revealed that a majority of women have not undergone testing for cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, or sexually transmitted diseases in the past 12 months. Shockingly, only around one-third of women worldwide have been tested for high blood pressure. The numbers are even lower for diabetes and cancer screenings, with only 19% and 11% of women tested, respectively.
Despite the United States having one of the highest per-capita healthcare expenditures, the overall health of women in the country ranks behind that of Vietnam, Latvia, Estonia, and many other nations. While the U.S. may tie with Canada for the highest score in preventive care, it falls below or just around the global average in terms of emotional health, individual health, and opinions on health and safety. This last measure takes into account women’s perspectives on issues such as pregnancy care and whether they feel secure walking alone at night within their communities.
On the other hand, Taiwan, Kuwait, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland are considered to have the best women’s health, based on the index findings. In contrast, countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, and Afghanistan rank at the bottom.
It is evident from these results that there is a pressing need for improved healthcare provision and increased awareness of women’s health concerns worldwide.
