A recent global survey on women's healthcare reveals that the UK has fallen in the rankings, with little improvement in women’s health since 2020, placing it behind several other countries.
The Hologic Global Women’s Health Index, which surveyed 79,000 women across 143 countries, ranks nations based on women's healthcare and wellbeing. In the latest report, the UK dropped to 37th place globally, down from 30th in the previous report. Tim Simpson, general manager at Hologic, attributed this decline to significant advancements in other countries that have surpassed the UK.
Simpson remarked, "Despite the UK's potential for progress, other countries are outpacing us by making more substantial gains in women’s health. This highlights the urgent need to enhance our focus on preventive care and pregnancy services, not just to catch up but to set a global standard in women’s healthcare."
The top 10 countries for women’s health were:
1. Taiwan, Province of China
2. Kuwait
3. Austria
4. Germany
5. Switzerland
6. Israel
7. Japan
8. Denmark
9. Poland
10. Czech Republic
"Cause for Concern"
The survey examined various aspects of women’s healthcare, including access to preventive care, the prevalence of domestic violence, and pregnancy and birth experiences. It also considered access to basic necessities like food and shelter, as well as the availability of healthcare services. Participants provided insights into their physical and mental health, and how these impact their daily lives.
Findings showed that UK women were less likely than their EU counterparts to have accessed preventive care in the past year, such as screenings for high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, and sexually transmitted infections. Satisfaction with healthcare access among UK women dropped from 75% in 2020 to 67% in the latest survey.
The mental wellbeing of UK women has also declined, with feelings of sadness increasing each year since 2020. Approximately 40% of UK women reported experiencing daily worry and stress, and they were more likely to report feelings of sadness, anger, and stress compared to women in other EU countries.
The report suggests that women’s health and wellbeing in the UK have not improved since the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the overall global index score remaining unchanged from 2020. However, some countries have seen improvements, declines, or stagnation.
Hologic emphasized that higher income and healthcare spending per capita do not necessarily correlate with better index scores. Similar to the UK, the US also dropped in the rankings, falling from 23rd to 30th despite being a high-income country.
Stephen Macmillan, CEO of Hologic, commented, "While the latest Hologic Global Women’s Health Index results are concerning, they also motivate us to intensify our efforts to improve women’s health worldwide, regardless of where they live, their financial status, or their education level. This mission is our driving force, and we remain committed to it. By working together, I am confident that we can achieve better outcomes—by any measure."
Note: Originally published by dentistry.co.uk
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