Women's Health
The health of women and men vary because of cultural, social, and biological differences. Historically and traditionally, women's health focused on reproductive health needs and childbirth; however, most women will spend the majority of their “reproductive” years avoiding pregnancy. Additionally, many women will never become pregnant and among those that do, only three to five years of their life will involve perinatal health issues. As the population of women age we are interested in the health exposures and outcomes that affect post-menopausal women, including osteoporosis and chronic diseases. Therefore, in MCH our interest in women's health goes beyond reproductive health issues and encompasses various health care issues and health outcomes throughout the life course.
Programming
There are a variety of programs focusing on women's health, including:
Autoimmune Diseases :
• Autoimmune Related Diseases Association: Autoimmune Disease in Women
Cancer :
• American Cancer Society: Early Detection & Prevention
• National Cancer Institute: Women's Cancers
Cardiovascular Disease :
• American Heart Association
• Medline: Heart Disease in Women
Diabetes :
Throughout the life cycle, women are at increased risk for complications with diabetes. During adolescent diabetic women are at increased risk for obesity and eating disorder, as fertile adults there are risks associated with pregnancy, during midlife there are concerns with HRT and increase risk for depression, and increased risk for heart disease.
• Initiative on Diabetes and Women's Health
Family Planning & Reproductive Health
• Guttmacher Institute (link to: http://www.guttmacher.org/ ) Guttmacher is a nonprofit organization focused on reproductive-health research, policy analysis and public education. The organization collects and reports data on pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, abortion, contraception and sexual behavior.
• Minnesota Department of Health Family Planning Special Projects Grants
• Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Federal
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Women's Health
Provides a wide array of resources including information on assisted reproductive technology, cancer screening, maternal health, nutritional supplements, pregnancy, cancer, and sexually transmitted diseases.
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: The Office on Women's Health Programs
Interpersonal Violence :
Violence not only affects more women than men, but puts women at greater risk for poor health.
• Minnesota Center Against Violence and Abuse
• MN Coalition Against Sexual Assault
• National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Mental health :
Depression affects women at higher rates than men and often women are unable to access appropriate services and care to treat and manage their depression.
• National Institute of Mental Health
• World Health International – Gender & Women's Mental Health
Minnesota :
• Deborah E. Powell Center for Women's Health
• healthymnwomen.org : A local ( Minnesota ) site devoted to women's health issues. Provides resources for researching health issues and provides information about healthy lifestyles in Minnesota .
• Mayo Clinic: Women's Health Center A wide range of resources from chronic health conditions to a woman's life cycle health.
• SAGE : breast and cervical cancer screening program in MN
• Women's Heart Clinic: Medical specialists, clinical research, and regional community education surrounding cardiovascular health
Occupational Health :
• NIOSH Safety and Health Topic: Women's Safety and Health Issues at Work
Policies
There are also a variety of policies affecting women's health such as health care access independent of childbearing, long-term health care policies, and contraceptive coverage and access to family planning services through insurance and Medicaid. Additionally, health insurance and state policies surrounding access, availability, and distribution of emergency contraception and HPV vaccinations continue to be points of contestation. It is important to stay up-to-date on these issues. Here are a few resources to do so:
Emerging Issues in Research
Emerging medical research has further highlighted the differences between men and women in disease, symptoms, and methods of prevention, diagnosis, and treatments. For example, while heart disease tends to be viewed as a male issue, it is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S. It is apparent that women not only differ in biology, but also have very different cultural roles, behaviors, economic issues, and social statuses that affect their health and well-being.
Access to health care is a major concern for many populations; however; it is an even more pressing issue for women. Roughly 1 in 5 women 18-64 years of age are uninsured; and many low-income women have significant gaps in health care coverage after childbearing, but before they are eligible for Medicare. Furthermore, women live longer and this presents additional economic challenges and long-term health care issues.
The NIH Revitalization Act of 1993, containing “Guidelines on the Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical Research," moved forward research endeavors related to women's health. Emerging gender-based research continues to uncover unique health concerns affecting women.
For more information on emerging research in women's health see the Society for Women's Health Research .
University of Minnesota Involvement
Faculty :
- Wendy Hellerstedt, PhD, MPH : underserved women, pregnancy intention, women's health, perinatal and reproductive health, socioeconomic status and health disparities
- Patricia McGovern, PhD, MPH : women's use of family medical leave policies in association with their postpartum health.
- Pamela Schreiner, PhD, MS : etiology of cardiovascular disease and prevention, dyslipidemia, obesity, visceral fat accumulation and the perimenopausal transition
Courses :
• PubH 6600 Topics: Maternal and Child Health; Women's Mental Health and Reproductive Outcomes, 2008 Public Health Institute
• PubH 6600 Topics: Maternal and Child Health; Principles and Programs in Maternal and Child Health (online course
• PubH 6605 Reproductive and Perinatal Health
• Global Reproductive Health
• PubH 6655 Principles and Programs in Maternal and Child Health (online course)
• PubH 6675 Women's Health
Centers :
Healthy Generations :
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