In a significant revelation about women’s well-being, the Hologic Global Women’s Health Index, one of the largest annual updates on women’s health, underscores a persistent emergency even as the COVID-19 pandemic diminishes. This comprehensive report, now in its third year, is a collaboration between women’s health innovation company Hologic, Inc. and Gallup, offering insights into the health, safety, and well-being of women worldwide.
Released at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and presented by Goals House—a community dedicated to advancing progress toward the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—this year’s Index draws attention to critical gaps in women’s healthcare. Based on interviews with over 147,000 individuals in 143 countries and territories, the report captures the voices of 97% of women and girls aged 15 and older globally.
Stephen P. MacMillan, Chairman, President, and CEO of Hologic, emphasizes the urgent need for world leaders to address the ongoing women’s health crisis, stating, “It’s time for world leaders to take a bolder stand for women and girls. Investing in women’s health not only benefits individual women but also their families, communities, and economies.”
Key Findings:
Low Testing Rates for Major Health Conditions:
Only 36% of women were tested for high blood pressure, a significant risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
Merely 19% underwent testing for diabetes, a leading cause of death for women.
A mere 11% were tested for any type of cancer.
Shockingly, only 10% were tested for sexually transmitted diseases or infections (STDs/STIs), leaving nearly 2 billion women at reproductive age vulnerable to infertility, maternal and fetal mortality, and deadly diseases.
Deteriorating Emotional Health:
More women report feelings of sadness, anger, and worry compared to three years ago.
Approximately 4 in 10 women experienced worry and stress on a significant portion of the previous day.
Women are 20% more likely than men to report daily experiences of sadness.
Additional Striking Findings:
Physical pain is a pervasive issue, with nearly 1 billion women worldwide experiencing substantial pain on the previous day.
Housing challenges persist, with the percentage of women struggling to afford shelter increasing by more than half in the last decade.
Safety concerns plague young women, as over 4 in 10 aged 15 to 24 do not feel safe walking alone at night.
Country Rankings:
The Index assigns a women’s health score to each country or territory based on survey responses. Noteworthy findings include:
Taiwan leads the world for the third consecutive year with a score of 72 out of 100.
Other top scores include Kuwait (68), Austria (67), and Germany (67).
Lowest scores go to the Democratic Republic of Congo (36), Sierra Leone (34), and Afghanistan (26).
The United States fell seven places to rank 30, alongside Kazakhstan. The United Kingdom and France scored 60, slightly above the global average.
MacMillan emphasizes that the Index serves as a wake-up call, urging prioritization of women’s health as a top global concern. He believes that by following the roadmap laid out in the Index, substantial improvements can be made in women’s health and well-being for generations to come. The report also includes country spotlights, showcasing case studies on successful health initiatives, with South Korea excelling in cancer testing and Costa Rica prioritizing blood pressure testing.
