The systemic invisibility of women’s midlife health, Pg11

Key Highlights:

• India has significantly reduced the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) from 362 per 100,000 live births in 2000 to approximately 80 per 100,000 in 2023.
• Women in their 30s and 40s are experiencing higher rates of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), with 106 per 1,000 women reporting at least one NCD compared to 65 per 1,000 men.
• Women often experience heart attacks with symptoms different from men, such as fatigue and nausea, leading to potential misdiagnosis.
• National Health Mission (NHM) includes population-based screening for breast and cervical cancers, addressing health risks in midlife.

Detailed Insights:

• Women's health beyond childbearing years receives less attention, leading to invisibility in policy and practice regarding autoimmune conditions, perimenopause, and cardiovascular risks.
• Diagnostic methods and medical research often overlook conditions disproportionately affecting women, resulting in delayed diagnoses and complex treatments.
• Social factors, such as women prioritizing family responsibilities and delaying medical help, contribute to the invisibility of their health issues.
• A shift towards a life-course approach is needed, recognizing the impact of early exposures, lifestyle factors, and social determinants on women's health over time.
• Extending Health and Wellness Centres beyond maternal services to include prevention and management of chronic diseases can lay the foundation for a life-course approach.
• Strengthening the pharmaceutical and medical device innovation ecosystem can address gaps in women’s health research and diagnostics.
• Encouraging women to prioritize their health can lead to gains for families, workplaces, and the economy.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR): The annual number of female deaths per 100,000 live births from any cause related to or aggravated by pregnancy or its management.
• Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs): Diseases that are not transmissible directly from one person to another, including cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and diabetes.
• National Health Mission (NHM): A government program to address the health needs of under-served rural areas, including maternal and child health.