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Women's Health

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Women make between 60 and 75% of health care decisions for themselves and their families - according to a number of studies. But the same studies also find women frequently neglect their own health. In addition, women have a growing number of concerns about the quality of health care and report difficulties navigating an increasingly complex health care system: 22% percent of women, compared with 17% of men polled for a Kaiser Family Foundation women's health survey, report concerns about the quality of their own healthcare. For women in fair or poor shape that number jumps to 40%. Despite new drugs and new treatments that are supposed to make health care easier and cheaper, many women are still baffled or alienated by an increasingly difficult system.

While the Kaiser Survey found most health care decisions for men and children are made by wives and mothers, many women still make erroneous decisions about their own health care. The most common mistake? Too many women believe a once a year visit to an ob/gyn specialist is all you need for basic health care. Younger women are becoming a bit more aggressive about their health, but older women lag behind.

To the Contrary spoke with experts about what women need to know in order to be more aggressive about their healthcare. Dr. Orli Etingen, Director of the Iris Cantor Women's Health Center says, "Every woman should have a quarterback of her medical care, a primary care doctor, usually an internist who coordinates her care with all of the other specialties. And that person is really in charge of the big picture, the long-term view, prevention in every realm." This applies to women at all economic levels whether they see private physicians or go to community health care centers. The Kaiser study found nearly 18% of women were so dissatisfied with their care they changed doctors in the past five years - double the rate for men. Experts remind women that the relationship with a doctor is a partnership, and women should find a doctor that best suits their personal needs.

The Kaiser survey also finds 25% of women compared with 16% of men go without care because they cannot afford it; but there may be free or inexpensive care available to them. For example, all states have programs that offer free breast and cervical cancer screenings to uninsured women. Other obstacles? Physical disabilities, lack of transportation, foreign languages, illiteracy and cultural barriers may separate women from convenient, affordable health care. In response to these concerns, most community health centers across the country now provide health care specialists or lay workers, who lack medical degrees but offer cultural comfort. There are also women's health centers designed to make healthcare more woman-friendly. For example, the Iris Cantor Women's Health Care Center recently opened in New York City as a one stop spot offering mammograms, pap tests, nutritional information and a range of other women's health services.

LINKS AND RESOURCES

Dept. of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health

NIH Office of Research on Women's Health

Kaiser Family Foundation's Women's Health Survey

The Society for Women's Health Research