Health problems and policies for older women : an emerging issue in developing countries
Young, Mary Eming
Health problems of older women will become an increasingly important issue in developing countries partially because of the sheer increase in absolute numbers. Today, two out of three of the world's 469 million women older than 50 already reside in developing countries. By 2020, three out of four will reside in developing countries, an absolute increase of 408 million. It is imperative to keep in mind the heterogeneity of developing countries. Older women constitute a distinct population that requires interventions very different from a population of younger women, who need an emphasis on maternity care. Obviously health problems of women are not homogeneous and cannot all be addressed through the traditional maternal and child health services. The pattern of health problems older women face reflects to a large extent the level of development of their region and country. Additionally, a woman's well-being is a result of all her previous experiences, including factors such as urban or rural residence, marital status, number of children, education, income, and nutrition. Furthermore, work has a tremendous influence on women's physical and mental health. Indeed, occupational health problems are emerging as a result of the increased number of women in urban industrial jobs. This report confines the discussion of women's health to the major causes of disease burden with the recognition that this is a narrow description of women's well-being. It presents possible policy directions and programs for prevention of mortality and morbidity among women older than 50 according to the typology of the country in which they reside.
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