Wednesday, January 17, 2024, 3:00 p.m
Results of the third Hologic Global Women’s Health Index:
Billions of women are not being tested for life-threatening diseases
emotional health continues to deteriorate
almost a billion women live with pain
Taiwan Tops Women’s Health Rankings by Country/Region; the USA falls to 30th place.
DAVOS, Switzerland — The number of Covid-19 cases is decreasing worldwide – yet the world is facing a women’s health emergency. This is shown by one of the largest annual surveys of women’s well-being – the Hologic Global Women’s Health Index.
Hologic, the innovative women’s health technology company, is collaborating with Gallup to produce the index, now in its third consecutive year.
The results show that billions of women are not being tested for potentially life-threatening diseases. The index also shows that more women are sad, angry and worried today than at the height of the pandemic. Many young women do not feel safe walking alone at night, and nearly a billion women experience physical pain for much of their day.
This year’s index was presented yesterday at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The event was convened by Goals House, a community that regularly comes together on important global occasions to advance progress toward the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The index fills an important knowledge gap regarding the health, safety and well-being of women worldwide. It represents the voices of 97% of women and girls ages 15 and older worldwide, based on interviews with more than 147,000 women and men in 143 countries and regions.
“The new results of the Index make it clear that women’s health remains in a state of emergency even after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Stephen P. MacMillan, Chairman, President and CEO of Hologic. “It is time for world leaders to step up their commitment to women and girls. Investing in women’s health not only benefits individual women, but also their families, communities and economies.”
The most important results of this year’s index:
There is still not enough testing for many important diseases. Most women have not had these important tests in the last 12 months. That means billions of women have not been tested for potentially life-threatening diseases: only 36% have been tested for high blood pressure – a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. 19% were tested for diabetes, a leading cause of death in women. 11% were tested for some type of cancer. 10% have been tested for a sexually transmitted disease or infection (STD/STI), putting nearly 2 billion women of reproductive age at risk of infertility, increased maternal and child mortality, and fatal diseases. Emotional health is deteriorating: The number of women who say they are sad, angry and worried is higher today than it was three years ago. About 4 in 10 women were frequently worried and stressed in the past day. Overall, more women than men report feeling these feelings. For example, women are 20% more likely than men to say they feel sad every day.
Other striking results:
Physical pain is a big problem. Nearly a billion women worldwide spent much of the past day in physical pain. The housing problems continue. The proportion of women who cannot afford housing has increased by more than half in the last ten years. Young women don’t feel safe. Many women, including more than 4 in 10 young women aged 15 to 24, do not feel safe walking alone at night.
Based on survey results, the index assigns a score for women’s health to each country or region. With 72 out of 100 possible points, Taiwan was at the top for the third time in a row. Other top scores went to Kuwait (68), Austria (67) and Germany (67). The lowest scores were in the Democratic Republic of Congo (36), Sierra Leone (34) and Afghanistan (26).
The United States fell seven places from the second year of the survey to 30th, tied with Kazakhstan. The United Kingdom and France both scored 60 points, several points above the global average.
“The index is a wake-up call that improving women’s health must be a top priority. If we follow the roadmap set out in this index, we can significantly improve the health and well-being of women across generations,” said MacMillan.
This year’s index report includes country spotlights and also case studies on which policies are working well. South Korea is a consistent leader in cancer testing, and Costa Rica is among the top countries in screening for high blood pressure following recent prioritization.
For the full index and additional resources, visit WomensHealthIndex.com.
About Hologic, Inc.
Hologic, Inc. is a global, innovative medical technology company specializing in women’s health and well-being through early detection and treatment. The company’s advancements include the invention of the world‘s first commercial 3D mammography system to combat breast cancer, leadership in testing for cervical cancer, sexually transmitted infections, respiratory diseases and the virus that causes COVID-19, and minimally invasive surgical technologies for Uterine fibroids and abnormal uterine bleeding.
The company also advocates for women through the Hologic Global Women’s Health Index, which provides data-driven, scientific guidance for improving women’s well-being, and the Health Equality Project, which increases awareness, research and access to quality care improved for underserved women.
Hologic and The Science of Sure are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Hologic Inc. and/or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries.
About Gallup
Gallup provides analysis and advice to help leaders and organizations solve their most pressing problems. Combining more than 80 years of experience and global reach, Gallup knows more about the attitudes and behaviors of employees, customers, students and citizens than any other organization in the world.