WOMEN

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WOMENS HEALTHPublic Health Issues

• Presentation by Miriam A. Bender,
• Chief Executive Officer
• Womens Health Virginia, Inc.
• November 19, 2001

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WOMENS HEALTH
VIRGINIAa non-profit organization to promote
and improve women and girls health in Virginia
through education, research, information and a
statewide communications network
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What is Womens Health ?
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Why focus on Womens health as a distinct concern
regarding public health?
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• Women are different medically
• Womens roles in families makes womens health a
  special concern
• Significance of womens health and health care in
  economy

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• What are the implications for public health
  policy?

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Need to look at Medical Issues
Non-medical Issues
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Medical issues

• Knowledge/research
• Education of medical community
• Education of women and girls

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Non-medical issues

• Economic
• Educational
• Sociologic
• Cultural
• Environmental

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Involve action by

• Government
• Private sector
• Business
• Health care industry
• Non-profit organizations
• At the federal, state and local level

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Knowledge/researchUnderstand biologic and
physiologic differences Understand therapeutic
responses
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Education of medical communityContinuing
Professional Education Medical school curricula
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Educating women and girls about their health
Be active participants in their
health care and be better health care consumers
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Non-medical issues Availability, cost
and use of health care and health insurance
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Addressing health and well being as part of
womens lives
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Understanding health behavior and attitudes
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Issues for the future

• Keeping a special focus on womens health
• Addressing womens health comprehensively
• Continuing and increasing public and private
  investment
• Developing policies and programs that meet women
  and girls needs