Women's health refers to a state of "complete mental, physical, spiritual and social well-being" for all female infants, girls and women regardless of age, socioeconomic class, race, ethnicity and geographic location.
Health, in general, comes about as the product of many factors: biological, psychological, social, political, cultural and economic. There was a time when programmes on women's health were focused almost entirely on maternal health. The realization did not come until later that women's health goes far beyond childbearing and includes other phases of a woman's life as well as the health of her children and her children's children.
Women's health can be spoken of in terms of the search for solutions for high maternal mortality ratios and infant mortality rates, malnutrition, anaemia and other micronutrient deficiencies, early and unwanted pregnancies, illiteracy, female genital mutilation, high fertility, unsafe abortions, reproductive tract infections (RTI), sexually transmitted infections (STI), HIV/AIDS, work-related health risks, cancers, substance abuse, sexual harassment, domestic abuse and violence against women, depression and other problems related to ageing, gender inequities, the unfair low social status accorded to women, the hindrances to their empowerment and the obstruction of their basic human rights.
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Fact sheets
No fact sheets available at this time.
News and press releases
11 November 2009
WHO calls for urgent action to improve women's health
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01 July 2008
WHO moves to reduce gender inequalities
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8 February 2006
New information available on anaemia in women
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16 June 2005
Bid to improve health of the poor
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24 October 2003
WHO: Political Commitment Needed to Reduce Infant and Maternal Mortality
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Relevant publications and documents
Upcoming meetings and events
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