Why Do Women Often Neglect Their Own Health Needs?

Have you ever wondered why women tend to put their loved one’s health before their own? Across the globe, this is a prevalent situation: almost 80% of women make decisions about their family’s health while frequently putting their own needs last. But why does this happen?

Women deal with a variety of complex and complicated health-related challenges. For example, women are frequently unfairly expected by society to put the needs of others before their own, which contributes to self-neglect. Financial hardships make this problem much worse.

Let’s take the example of reproductive health issues. Due to cultural taboos or inadequate healthcare infrastructure, women’s access to complete reproductive healthcare, including contraception and maternal care, is still restricted in many parts of the world. This lack of access can have serious repercussions for women’s health, increasing the risk of unsafe abortions, maternal mortality, and problems with reproductive health.

Although stigmatised or minimised, mental health issues pose a substantial burden for women as well, resulting in under-diagnosis and under-reporting. Women are more prone to suffer from mental health issues including anxiety and depression, but they may be reluctant to get treatment because they worry about being judged or don’t feel supported. This unwillingness to confront mental health issues can have significant ramifications, affecting not only the individuals’ health, but also their ability to carry out their responsibilities as mothers, wives, bosses, caretakers, workers, and members of the community.

Research and treatment choices for chronic disorders such as cancer and heart disease are generally focused on studies conducted primarily on men, despite the fact that women are disproportionately affected by these conditions. Gender bias in medical research and healthcare delivery can lead to misdiagnosis, ineffective treatment, and inferior health outcomes for women.

Why therefore should women’s health matter? When women’s health needs are disregarded or marginalised, the effects extend much beyond the level of the person. As the pillars and nurturers of their communities, women serve vital roles. When their health is poor, it not only impairs their capacity to perform these duties but also has an adverse effect on the welfare of their households as well as entire communities.

It’s important to note that the mother’s health has a direct impact on the health of her offspring because she is frequently in charge of their upbringing, healthcare decisions, and nutrition. So, when women are healthy and thriving, they can fully participate in these areas, accelerating progress and prosperity for all. As a result, putting women’s health first is a strategic investment in the well-being and prosperity of entire communities, not just an issue of justice.

So, how do we put women’s health and well-being first?

Family members, especially fathers and parents can actively help the women in their life by encouraging frequent health screenings, advocating for their healthcare needs, and offering emotional support when needed. In fact, a study published in the Journal of Family Psychology found that daughters who perceived their fathers as supportive were more likely to engage in health-promoting behaviours and seek preventive care as adults. Additionally, research from the University of Michigan revealed that women who received emotional support from their parents reported better overall health and well-being.

Another important role is that of healthcare practitioners. We have to pay close attention to the worries expressed by women, carry out in-depth evaluations, and provide individualised treatment plans.

Workplaces can also establish policies that facilitate a work-life balance, allow for flexible scheduling of medical appointments, and give women’s health promotion resources. There are encouraging workplace adaptations being put in place which empower women, for example allowing remote working for women experiencing menopausal symptoms.

At Millennium Health Focus (MHF), we are dedicated to promoting women’s health through a wide range of our services, supporting programmes that are designed and tailored to address women’s health concerns. We work to give women the tools they need to take control of their health and well-being, from mental health support and regular health check-ups to reproductive health screenings.

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Dr Taiwo Olatunji is an experienced British trained General Physician with experience in Acute Medicine, Emergency Medicine, and General Surgery including ENT. He brings a wealth of experience from previous roles in Business and NHS practice. He is the founder of MHF Medical Concierge, the first Afro-centric bespoke private healthcare service providing unrivalled client experience and solution-driven medical practice.

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