National Women’s Health Strategy 2020-2030
This is really important - 2 of the top 5 priorities: Educating women and girls around Maternal, sexual and reproductive health and Chronic conditions and preventive health (endometritis / PCOS).
Below I have outlined some major points in the report, but you can also read it in its full by clicking the below button. The super important, granular detail I have outlined here.
Through a life course approach, the Strategy recognises there are a range of health needs, risks and influences experienced by women at different stages of life, and focuses on the importance of investing in awareness and education, health interventions, service delivery and research at these key stages to maximise physical, mental and social health at every age. The principles and objectives of the Strategy provide a frame for both the development of the Strategy itself and to guide the subsequent implementation of priorities and actions outlined in the Strategy.
Key priorities and actions have been developed to drive change and improve health outcomes. The five priority areas are:
Maternal, sexual and reproductive health – increase access to information, diagnosis, treatment and services for sexual and reproductive health; enhance and support health promotion and service delivery for preconception, perinatal and maternal health.
Healthy ageing – adopt a life course approach to healthy ageing; address key risk factors that reduce quality of life and better manage the varied needs of women as they age.
Chronic conditions and preventive health – increase awareness and prevention of chronic conditions, symptoms and risk factors; invest in targeted prevention, early detection and intervention; tailor health services for women and girls.
Mental health – enhance gender-specific mental health awareness, education and prevention; focus on early intervention; invest in service delivery and multi-faceted care.
Health impacts of violence against women and girls – raise awareness about, and address the health and related impacts of violence against women and girls; co-design and deliver safe and accessible services.
The improvement of health outcomes for women and girls is strongly influenced by the contributions made by a wide range of partners. These partners include:
Individuals, carers and families;
Communities;
All levels of government;
Non-government organisations;
The public and private health sectors, including health care providers and private health insurers;
Industry; and
Researchers and academics.
Greater cooperation between partners will lead to more successful individual and system outcomes. The priorities and actions outlined in this Strategy are intended to guide partner investment in activities to address the health of women and girls and should be implemented collaboratively to achieve the best health outcomes.
Priority areas
There are five priority areas that identify the actions that will deliver a multifaceted approach to improving the health outcomes for women and girls in Australia.
Each of these priority areas contributes towards the overall purpose and objectives of the Strategy.
The five priority areas are:
Maternal, sexual and reproductive health
Healthy ageing
Chronic conditions and preventive health
Mental health
Health impacts of violence against women and girls
Priority area 1
Maternal, sexual and reproductive health Maternal, sexual and reproductive health is a priority for Australian women and girls and must be considered within the social and cultural context of women’s lives.
It is not simply about the absence of disease, but refers to a state of physical, mental and social wellbeing across all stages of life. Factors contributing to maternal, sexual and reproductive health include the role of women in society and the control women have over their own bodies, reproductive choices and lifestyle. This highlights the need for women and girls to be informed of, and to have access to, safe, effective, affordable and acceptable forms of fertility regulation, health services and support.
What’s working well
In December 2018, the Australian Government announced an investment of $7.2 million to help reduce the rate of stillbirth in Australia. This will be achieved through education and awareness programs for women and medical practitioners, research to minimise preventable stillbirth through the use of biomarkers and ultrasound in late pregnancy and stillbirth research through the Medical Research Future Fund.
The successful National Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Program has led to a rapid and significant decline in genital warts and is expected to reduce the rates of HPV-related cancers in the coming years, such as cervical cancer.
The Australian Government has delivered a National Action Plan for Endometriosis – the first ever blueprint seeking to improve treatment, awareness and understanding of this condition and related chronic pelvic pain.
There is also a focus on improving maternity services and providing breastfeeding support for mothers and babies in Australia, through the development of a National Strategic Approach for Maternity Services and a new Australian National Breastfeeding Strategy 2019 and beyond. There are also a range of other strategies that are relevant for sexual and reproductive health.
What needs more attention
The incidence and impact of poor sexual and reproductive health on women and girls varies between different population groups, influenced by factors such as socioeconomic status, geographic location and age. Improved sexual and reproductive health outcomes are reliant on the availability of, and access to, appropriate health promotion and education material that is suitable for people with limited sexual health literacy.
Three key priority areas for action have been identified to improve maternal, sexual and reproductive health for Australian women and girls:
Increase access to sexual and reproductive health care information, diagnosis, treatment and services - THIS IS IMPORTANT
Increase health promotion activity to enhance and support preconception and perinatal health
Support enhanced access to maternal and perinatal health care services
Key measures of success
Decrease in the notification rates of sexually transmissible infections for priority populations
Increase in the availability and uptake of Long Acting Reversible Contraception (LARCs)
Equitable access to pregnancy termination services
A continued increase in the rate of vaccinations under the National HPV Program
Increased early access to antenatal services by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and culturally and linguistically diverse women
De-stigmatisation of urinary and faecal incontinence and improved access for women to care for these conditions, including pelvic floor physiotherapy
Improved access to counselling and care of adult women with sexual function concerns
Women’s health at a glance
A snapshot of key health risks for women and girls in Australia
Women at all stages of life are at greater risk than men of mental ill-health
Mental health disorders represent the leading cause of disability for women in Australia
43% of women have experienced mental illness at some time
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women experience higher rates of comorbid conditions, including diabetes, breast, cervical and ovarian cancers than non-indigenous women
Women and girls in socioeconomically disadvantaged and marginalised group continue to experience poorer health outcomes than the general population
Eating disorders are the third most common chronic illness amongst young women in Australia
Women are 1.6 times as likely to suffer coexisting mental and physical illness
87% of women aged 65 and over have a chronic disease
Symptoms of a heart attack in women are less likely to be recognised than in men
Women are less likely than men to receive appropriate treatment for heart disease
Rates of cardiovascular disease are 1.5 times higher for women in remote areas than in urban areas
Members of the LGBTI community experience higher levels of depression, anxiety and affective disorders than their peers
Incidence of lung cancer has been increasing in women for more than 20 years, while it has been decreasing in men
Women who experience family and intimate partner violence are more likely to report poor mental health, physical function and general health than other women
80% of people with incontinence are girls and women
25% of women have pelvic floor disorders
Migrant and refugee women are at greater risk of suffering poorer maternal and child health outcomes than other women
61% of people living with dementia are women
What Women want
“Guaranteed timely access for all women to comprehensive coordinated prevention and life-long care, ensuring world-class health outcomes.”
“To ensure that all women in Australia are clear on what the issues are that affect their health, how they can go about getting screening, diagnosis and the relevant treatment.”
“Causes and consequences of gender inequality to be recognised, understood and used to inform all elements of the health system...”
“Any woman, irrespective of age, cultural background, socioeconomic conditions, or geographic location, can access information on any mental health or general health condition concerning them, has no barrier such as stigma or remote location preventing access to treatment and support, where the focus is on early intervention, integrated care, relapse prevention, and where affordability is not an issue.”
“Holistic, integrated biopsychosocial approach to preventing ill health and managing it effectively when it occurs.”
“Address the leading causes of death and disability for women using a comprehensive life-course approach... with a specific focus on the social determinants of health and equality for all women!”