15. Inclusion of Sex and Gender in Treatment Women’s health is more than reproductive health; it is health across the life-span. The incidence and prevalence of certain diseases are higher among women such as breast cancer, osteoporosis, auto-immune diseases and eating disorders. Others affect men and women differently, including lung cancer, diabetes, depression and cardiovascular disease. Women do not present the same for various conditions and respond differently to treatment and care. Sex and gender differences have important implications for health and healthcare. Thus, treatments must account for sex and gender differences in order to ensure women and their families receive the best available treatment and care.
16. Caregiving Support Women play a major caring role in care-giving. Within the household, women often have little support, which may affect their health negatively. Much of the responsibility for childcare, care of older parents and disabled family members continues to fall on women. The time consumed in caregiving can lead some women to neglect their own health. Working women normally continue to bear the main burden for childcare and household work, which may create stress and affect both their physical and mental health. Programmes and policies to support female caregivers should be encouraged and supported.
17. Family Health Managers Women as mothers, partners and daughters often take on the role as managers of health for their families. Women are often the main decision-makers particularly for the health and wellbeing of children. However, these obligations can come at the cost of women’s own health and wellbeing. Policies and programming should support the role women play in managing their own health and the health of their families.
18. Holistic Approach to Health Socioeconomic, educational, cultural and ethnicity differences impact health behaviour and access to resources. Sex and gender inequities, lack of resources or decision-making power, unfair work divisions as well as violence against women all impact health. Moreover, women have less financial resources than men, which exacerbate existing health inequalities. Women in Europe are in lower paid, often less secure and informal occupations than men. Women earn on average 16% less than men. Women, on average, receive pensions that are 40% lower than men.vii A broad view on health and wellbeing - including mental health, employment, justice, education and technology - should be taken in order to reduce sex and gender inequities in health.
19. Healthy Healthcare Professionals Women are also key actors in the health sector not only as users of services but also as healthcare professionals. Often, women receive lower pay, less recognition or have to manage child and elder care as well. Policy and programmes must support female healthcare professionals in training and employment as well as helping them maintain good health. Women remain concentrated in the lower-level health occupations compared to men, have less status, lower salaries or, to accommodate the care of children and/or older family members have interrupted careers which often negatively impacts their financial situation, pension rights and career opportunities. Women must be recognised and supported in order for them to take a leading role in the healthcare sector.
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