More than 50% of women consult a doctor when they experience serious health symptoms

women go to the doctor when he comes serious signs of illness. In particular, half of the group of women interviewed in “Women and health‘, Organon research, the company focused on improve women’s overall health and carried out by Psyma Ibérica under the supervision of Professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health of the University of Alicante, Maria Teresa Ruiz Cantero. These findings are presented within International Day of Action for Women’s Health.

Another conclusion is that more than 75% women go to doctor’s appointments alone. This is confirmed by the results of this survey in which they took part. 1504 women from Spain and which collects views on their health, how they use health care, the time it takes to seek it, and the impact of the conditions they suffer from, menstruation and menopause, on their quality of life. In addition, this survey also takes into account the frequency demand for medical care and their satisfaction with the health care system.

“The main goal of the study is to understand women’s health in order to improve it, as well as to find out their self-perception of health in general terms.”

To better understand women’s health, it is advisable to take into account their self-perception, according to Dr. Maria Teresa Ruiz Cantero. “The main purpose of the study is to understand women’s health in order to improve it, as well as to find out their self-perception of health in general terms. On the other hand, we also seek to determine to what extent we can support, accompany, modify strategies both within the health sector and those related to the areas in which women move,” says the specialist.

In this line perception of respondents (68%) is that your health over the past year has been good or very good. A fact unrelated to whether they suffer from any disease or not, since 57% of women surveyed do not report any disease or any other health problems, and 35% are already diagnosed and 8% the rest is waiting for you.

“This survey is a call to action to improve women’s health because by improving it, we will improve the health of society as a whole.”

“At Organon, we want to promote health with perspective, a new way to look at holistic women’s health. For this reason, we conducted this survey to understand the social determinants that influence their health, with women themselves explaining their circumstances and experiences with health or illness. This survey is a call to action to improve women’s health because by improving it we can improve the health of society as a whole,” explains the doctor. Manuel Anxo Blanco, Director of Institutional Relations at Organon.

58% VISIT THE DOCTOR ONCE A YEAR

Regarding health center usage habits, the study shows that more than 75% women seek medical care alone. This percentage is even higher among women aged 36 to 50, reaching 82%, and increases to 83% among people 51 to 65 years old. Even 69% of women aged 66 to 75 years She continues to walk alone in search of medical help.

It was noted that 58% of women visit a doctor once a year, and 33% only when necessary. Almost half of the women surveyed undergo medical examinations and examinations, that is, they carry out secondary prevention measures. Regarding the type of center they visit, more than 80% Women surveyed go to a primary health care center when they have health problems.

At the first symptoms, 20 to 30% of women sought help for more than a year.

The main areas of concern among women surveyed were allergies, mental health, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, neurological diseases and conditions of the female reproductive system. In this sense, research from the University of Alicante has shown that at the first symptoms from 20 to 30% It took the women more than a year to seek help.

Among the diseases that have the greatest impact on women’s health is depression. (8.2 out of 10)followed by migraine (7.5)allergy (6.46) and a complex of diseases of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity and hypercholesterolemia, with the influence 5.93 out of 10. The same goes for menstruation and menopause, which have a significant impact on women’s quality of life.

In this sense, more than half (52%) Women report fatigue, mood swings, heavy bleeding and painful periods. 36% usually takes painkillers, although 74% He claims that he did not see a doctor because of the said pain. For women during menopause, 43% of the total suffer from hot flashes and night sweats, physical changes, poor sleep quality and sexual loss. He 72% She says she doesn’t feel sad that the fertile stage is behind her.

GENDER PERSPECTIVE

Women interviewed identified gender issues in health care that could help improve their health. Thus, 67% of respondents believe that women and men react differently experienced the same symptoms or illness. He 57% Some respondents believe that when faced with the same disease or health problem, they are not listened to and the same efforts are not made for diagnosis and treatment as men; and 46% believe that doctors are not interested in their social and family context.

“This information can be useful in developing policies that focus on women’s overall health and, therefore, the health of the communities to which they contribute so much.”

“The social determinants of health perspective taken in this women’s health study provides new insights into sociocultural, family, economic, and gender dimensions; and how the healthcare structure understands and meets women’s needs. This information may be useful for developing strategies targeting women’s holistic health; and therefore on the health of the society to which they contribute so much,” concludes Dr. Ruiz Cantero.