Women across the world experience a myriad of health challenges known as women’s health problems that are gender and sex-specific to them.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (HIV/AIDS)
Firstly, according to reports, approximately 33 million people across the globe are infected with HIV. More than half of the people who are infected with HIV are women. Sub-Saharan African women account for over 60 per cent of these cases. According to a report tabled by the World Health Organization, HIV/AIDS is a leading cause of death among women of reproductive age. This is because, biologically, women are more susceptible to HIV than men. Consensual sex, engaging in unprotected sex and high-risk behaviours of their partners increased the risk of women contracting HIV. In many parts of the world, all these factors are beyond a woman’s control. Therefore, thanks to antiretrovirals (ARVs), most people who have HIV can live long and fruitful lives. Spreading awareness about the HIV/AIDs virus is a good way of preventing and sensitizing society about the disease.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases, STDs
Secondly, Sexually Transmitted Diseases are also a major health concern for women folk across the world. STDs such as chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhoea, and genital herpes affect both infants and women globally. These diseases also increase the risk of contracting the HIV virus. Like HIV, women have a greater risk of contracting STDs compared to men. As a result of contracting STDs, women face a plethora of health issues, including infertility, and cancer. Additionally, chronic conditions may arise where the STD goes untreated. The infection can be passed out to their children during breastfeeding and pregnancy. Worthy to mention is that most STDs can be treated. The main issue is access to health facilities and medication in some regions of the world.
Autoimmune Diseases: Women’s Health
Moreso, autoimmune diseases are also a significant health issue for women. This is a group of more than 80 diseases. They are chronic and may disable the affected person. Autoimmune diseases occur when defects of the immune system cause the body to attack its own cells, organs and tissues. More than 80 per cent of the people who are affected by these diseases are women. Autoimmune diseases are a leading cause for young and middle-aged ladies across the world. Autoimmune diseases include Multiple sclerosis, lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis and Scleroderma.
Furthermore, the health challenges that face women, in general, are a matter of great concern. This is partly because women play a significant maternal role in the continuity of the human race. Additionally, women are vital in the process of maintaining and establishing healthy families. The health of women is a concern to all persons and not just the woman as an individual. In addition, there are a number of challenges that make addressing women’s health issues difficult., and women living in developing nations experience extreme poverty, illiteracy, stigma and poor medical facilities. These, among others, undermine the efforts of providing health facilities to all women worldwide.
Women’s Health: Gender Issue
Importantly, women living in developed nations suffer from a different set of issues in regard to their health issues. While these issues may not be in regard to the availability of treatment and information, women in developed countries also experience gender-based violence, disparities in insurance coverage and stigmatization.
One of the main objectives of the millennium development goals is to improve access to health facilities. Limited access to proper healthcare has many long-term social-economic difficulties. Towards realizing better health standards for women across the world, governments and non-governmental organizations have come up with several strategies. These strategies are based on the belief that all communities should:
- Enhance their medical capacity
- Increase access to medical facilities; and
- Enhance access to medical information.
Cancer
Cancer is when cells grow in a way that isn’t normal and they tend to grow out of control. It can move to other parts of the body. It is a group of diseases that can affect any part of the body. Old cells don’t die when cancer starts to grow. Instead, they keep growing and making strange new cells. From these extra cells, a mass of tissue called a tumour can grow.
It affects both men and women. Women are hurt in more important ways. The most common kinds of cancer in women are:
i. Uterine cancer
ii. Ovarian cancer
iii. Cervical cancer
iv. Vaginal cancer
v. Vulvar cancer
vi. Breast cancer
It’s important for women’s health care to know about these cancers and what you can do to help prevent them. Also, cancer might be easier to treat if it is found early when the tumours are small and haven’t spread.
Signs Women Should Not Ignore
In general, the following are signs that women shouldn’t ignore but should instead go to the hospital to find out what’s going on.
• Blood in the stool, which could be a sign of colorectal cancer
• Changes in the skin around the breasts, which could be a sign of breast cancer
• Unusual bleeding, which could be a sign of gynaecological cancer
Also, there are
• Bloating, which could be a sign of cancer in the ovary or uterus
• A cough that won’t go away, which could mean you have lung cancer or leukaemia
• Stomach pain or sickness could be a sign of leukaemia or cancer of the oesophagus, liver, pancreas, or colon.
• Losing weight for no apparent reason. This could be a sign of leukaemia, lymphoma, or cancer of the oesophagus, pancreas, liver, or colon.
• Skin changes that could mean you have skin cancer
• Weird bumps that could be a sign of leukaemia
• Getting sick often, which could be a sign of leukaemia
Also, cancer treatment for women usually depends on a lot of things, like the type and stage of the disease, the possible side effects, the woman’s overall health and age, and whether or not she wants to have children in the future.
Most breast and gynecologic cancers are first treated with surgery.
Treatment of Cancer: Women’s Health
Some other ways to treat an illness are:
• Medicine to treat hormones
• Individualized care
• X-rays as a part of the treatment
• Immunology
Health Care for Women and Autoimmune Diseases
Conclusion on Women’s Health
Each region of the world has its own problems, which require a unique approach. Each approach is required to be multifaceted. This is because communities must look for solutions on different levels. For example, while access to medical facilities and information may not be an issue in the United Kingdom or Sweden, the same is a major issue for women living in war-torn countries like Syria, the Central African Republic and Afghanistan. There is also the issue of poverty which has to be addressed. To achieve the goals set in different international and local instruments in regard to women’s health issues, all stakeholders must exercise a high mind. By so doing, the lives of millions of women across the world will be saved.
