An Australian first study into women’s health conditions and social issues has highlighted that many women and girls feel unheard or dismissed, especially in areas outside reproductive health, the ‘silent’ health issues.
The research found a strong need for the health system, researchers and the media to go ‘beyond the bikini line’ and focus on all aspects of women’s and girl’s health, including those that affect them differently or disproportionately to men and boys.
Published by Monash University researchers and The Sisterhood Found in the BMC Women’s Health, the study was led by Dr Sara Holton and Professor Helen Skouteris in the form of a survey, interviews and a review of current research funding and publications, as well as media articles.
“The historical ‘one size fits all’ approach to health is based on data collected predominately by and about men, tends to generalise research findings and care to both men and women, and reflects gendered notions and structures of health, which often include assumptions about women’s bodies and health and limited recognition of their unique health needs,” said Professor Skouteris.
‘Silent’ health issues
As part of the study, over 2200 women and girls completed a survey and interviews were conducted with health and social care experts including practitioners, policy makers and academics.
Most of the survey participants (57.6 per cent) were concerned about violence as a condition/issue affecting women’s health.
While cancer was perceived by the respondents to be the condition/issue that received the most funding (73.3 per cent) and attention (70 per cent).
The conditions that respondents identified as needing more funding and support include endometriosis (72.9 per cent), depression (66.3 per cent) and homelessness (79.0 per cent).
The findings from this study is the most comprehensive in Australia, and it shows a need for all women’s health issues to be addressed, including those that don’t receive as much support and awareness.
Of the more than $3.5 billion of Australian research funding allocated in 2023-2024, only 3.3 per cent supported women’s health related research.
Of this, more than half was allocated to research about health conditions that only affect women, such as their reproductive health including pregnancy, and gynaecological cancers, but many conditions were overlooked including those that affect women disproportionately or differently to men. Conditions like chronic kidney disease, depression and violence received the least funding.
The study concluded that women are more likely than men to be misdiagnosed or dismissed due to their symptom presentation, be diagnosed and receive treatment later, and have multimorbidity (multiple illnesses). They are also less likely to receive the care required and participate in health research, the study concluded.
Katie McLeish, CEO the Sisterhood Foundation, said the study’s findings highlighted that “many women and girls feel unheard or dismissed when it comes to their health issues, and are calling for greater attention and support for issues that only, differently, or disproportionately affect them and we need to listen”