Determinants of Women's Health

Why does women's health require focused attention?

Women's health is more than just reproductive organs. Biological, social, cultural, and environmental factors influence the health and wellbeing of women from birth to old age. Women live longer but are more prone to illness and disability, longevity and quality of life are important.

Name three biological differences that affect women's health, and two female specific health conditions

Women experience unique health needs and illness shaped by biology and gendered social role.

1. Menstruation

2. Pregnancy

3. Menopause

1. Endometrosis

2. Ovarian cancer

What are examples of social factors affecting women's health?

- Unpaid caregiving roles, social norms

- Gender-based violence directly impact health

- Insecure employment

- Discrimination

Why have women historically experienced poorer healthcare outcomes?

Healthcare systems have often been based on male norms, leading to missed diagnoses and poorer outcomes.

Sex vs Gender

Sex: refers to biological traits, chromosome, hormones, anatomy

Gender: Involves social roles, behaviours, expectations.

- Together affect disease risk, healthcare access, and healthcare outcomes

"Hopelessness of considering these terms apart from each other" - Feminist academics

Health

"A state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity" - World Health Organisation 1946 - cultural wellbeing in Australia

Why is education considered a health determinant?

Higher education improves health literacy and encourages healthier behaviours.

What are social determinants of health?

The conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age.

Income

Education

Employment

Housing

Social support

Access to healthcare

Biological Determinants

Influence susceptibility to disease, health needs, and response to treatment.

- Hormones fluctuate impacting bone density, cardiovascular health, metabolism, well-being from puberty to menopause.

- BRCA gene mutations increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

- Reproductive Biology

How do biological and social determinants interact?

Social conditions can increase or reduce biological health risks.

What does Medicare provide?

Access to GPs, hospitals, cancer screening, blood tests, and other essential health services.

However: rural women = longer travel, workforce shortages, and limited access to healthcare.

Why is culturally safe healthcare important?

It improves healthcare access and outcomes for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and culturally diverse women.

What is intersectionality?

The interaction of multiple social identities and disadvantages that influence health outcomes.

Require an inersectional approach:

First Nations women

Women with disability

LGBTQIA+ women

Culturally and linguistically diverse women

Migrant and refugee women

What was Australia's population in 2025?

27.7 million people.

Approximately what proportion of Australia's population are women and girls?

About half.

Why is Australia's ageing population important?

It helps policymakers plan healthcare across the lifespan.

What percentage of Australia's population is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander?

3.8% (2021).

What health inequalities affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women?

Higher birth rates

Lower life expectancy

Ongoing effects of colonisation

Racism

Intergenerational trauma

Social disadvantage

What are ACCHOs?

Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations that provide culturally safe healthcare.

What percentage of Australians were born overseas in 2025?

32%.

India

England

China

New Zealand

Language barriers, trauma, and reduced access to healthcare.

What is the life expectancy of Australian women and First Nation women

85.1 years.

FN - 75.6 years.

What does HALE measure?

The average number of years lived in full health.

Around 74 years for Australian Women

Why do women often experience more years with illness than men?

Women live longer and therefore experience more chronic disease and disability.

What is multimorbidity?

Having two or more chronic conditions.

What is a risk and Protective factor?

Risk: Something that increases the likelihood of illness or harm

Protective: Something that lowers a persons chance of a negative health outcome

What is a absolute and relative risk?

Absolute: The average persons chance of developing something during a specific period of time

Relative: One groups risk of developing something compared with another group

Relative x Absolute = increase

Absolute + increase in risk to get new lifetime risk

Which hormone helps protect women from heart disease before menopause?

Oestrogen.

Name six major modifiable health risk factors.

Smoking

Poor diet

Physical inactivity

Obesity

High blood pressure

High cholesterol

Why is screening important?

It is a preventative measure that detects disease early.

Why is a lifespan approach to women's health important?

It emphasises prevention, early intervention, equity, and recognises that health disadvantages accumulate over time.

Why are ABS and AIHW data important?

They identify health trends, monitor inequalities, guide public health policy, and improve healthcare planning

What are the four major influences on women's health?

Biological, social, cultural, and environmental factors.