Presented by Peggy Maguire, Director General, European Institute of Women’s Health , at the 64th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe.

1. Gender inequalities and
women’s health in EU
Peggy Maguire
Director General, European Institute of Women’s Health
President, European Public Health Alliance

2. Why Women’s Health?
“The health of women has a direct bearing on the
health of the future generation, their families, and
communities, and ultimately, the health of societies.”
NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health (2010)

3. Interaction Between Sex & Gender
Biological Dimension
• The biological sex differences
between females and males are
relevant for the diagnosis and
treatment of various diseases
and medical conditions.
Social Dimension
• Most factors influencing health
lie outside the health sector.
Important social issues with
consequences for health include
education, employment
transport agriculture.
• Socio-economic, educational
cultural and ethnicity differences
can impact on patterns of
behaviour and access to
resources.

4. Health Inequalities
"Inequalities experienced in earlier life in access to education,
employment and healthcare as well as those based on gender and
cultural background can have a critical bearing on the health status of
people throughout their lives.
The combination of poverty with other vulnerabilities such as childhood
or old age, disability or minority background further increases health
risks and vice-versa, ill health can lead to poverty and/or social
exclusion.”
European Parliament Report on Reducing Health Inequalities in the EU
Committee on the Environment,
Public Health, and Food Safety (2011)

5. The Chronic Disease Burden

6. Disease Burden: Why Gender Matters
CVD- Number one killer of men and women worldwide.17.1 million
people die each year. A substantial number of these deaths caused by
tobacco smoking.
WHO CVD Program assists Member States in prevention in reducing
the toll of morbidity, disability and premature mortality due to CVD.
Cancer - Some cancers are preventable such as cervical cancer.
Access to screening and HPV vaccine is unequal in WHO Region.
Low- and middle-income countries need to implement combined cost-effective
and affordable interventions to tackle these highly preventable
diseases.
Diabetes in pregnancy can result in Miscarriage,Premature or stillbirth.
Preeclampsia etc.
Diabetes Screening and policy varies throughout the European
Region!
.

7. Inequalities in HealthCare
Women experience specific barriers to accessing healthcare. Women
with HIV/AIDS have problems in accessing treatment in some
countries.
Barriers to equitable care include difficulties in taking time off work,
caring responsibilities, and lack of income.
Analysing the quality of health care is difficult - varied health care
systems, demographic composition, and cultural differences.
Research: Lack of implementation of Sex & Gender
www.eugenmed.eu
There is a significant gap in available data on health care-related
issues — from utilisation of health care facilities to participation in
health care programmes.
.

8. Health 2020: the European policy for
health and well-being
Health 2020 recognizes that governments can
achieve real improvements in health if they work
across government.
The two strategic objectives are:
1) Improving health for all and reducing health inequalities
2) Improving leadership and participatory governance for
health

9. Sexual and Reproductive Health
Women's capacity to conceive and give birth has major effects
on their wellbeing.
If women cannot control their own fertility or lack the resources
to move safely through pregnancy and childbirth, women will be
unable to realise their health potential (EIWH, 2011)
In many EU countries access to modern contraceptives, as well as
sexual education is still an unmet need.

10. Sexual and Reproductive Health
Maternal Health-The issue of migrant and minority (esp. the Roma)
maternal health issues such as access to quality, affordable care.
www.epha.org
Safety of medicines in pregnancy(EUROMEDICAT project)
http://www.euromedicat.eu/
Standards of Care for Womens Health in Europe(the EU Board of
Obstetricians and Gynaecology) www.ebcog.eu

11. Violence Against Women
in the EU Region
In the greater European region 25% of women suffer from physical
violence and more than 10% suffer from sexual violence at least once
in their adult lives.
Violence against women affects women of all circumstances and ages.
Specific groups are particularly vulnerable including disabled women,
female asylum seekers, migrant and ethnic minority women,
prostitutes, refugees, trafficked women and women living in institutions.

12. Effects of Violence
Domestic violence is the most common form of violence against
women.
Violence has an immediate effects on the physical and mental health of
women, as well as long-term effects ranging from injury to death.
Sexual violence against women is associated with STIs,HIV/AIDS
physical health issues, gastrointestinal disorders, gynaecological
problems mental health issues.
More likely to have a low weight baby
It is estimated that unwanted pregnancy occurs in one in six rapes
among women aged 12-45 years.
http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/violence/VAW_health_impact.jpeg?ua=1

13. Combatting Violence
The World Health Organization found that the healthcare sector is vital
to combatting violence against women by identifying abuse early,
providing victims with appropriate treatment and referring women to
needed care.
Women must feel safe when accessing these services where they are
treated respectfully, without stigma, as abused women are often
reluctant to seek the needed care.
Empowerment of women through integrated, multi-sectoral
approaches.
Promoting and implementing laws and policies related to violence
against women, gender equality and HIV.

14. World Health Assembly
Resolution
Meeting in Geneva, 23-24 June 2014
Review potential options for indicators on violence against women.
Discuss the strengths and weaknesses and feasibility of measurement
of the different indicаtors.
Build consensus among key agencies and partners around possible
indicators to be proposed.
Consensus on priority indicators on violence against women.
http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/violence/en/

15. Recommendations
Reduce health inequalities by investing in gender-sensitive research,
prevention, treatment and care across the life-span.
Include (1)Reproductive Rights and Sexual Health and (2)Violence
against Womens in health planning and programmes
paying special attention to vulnerable and marginalised groups.
Collect gender- and age-specific data across Europe.
Discrimination in the healthcare sector must be uncovered and
reported.
Increase Health literacy in and for women

16. Thank you
European Institute of Women’s Health
http://eurohealth.ie
European Public Health Alliance
www.epha.org/