The Unseen Factors of Women's Health
- Ishaa Dhamne
- Nov 21, 2020
- 3 min read
Overview of Women’s Health in the U.S.
The state of women’s health in the United States is much worse than one would expect. The Commonwealth Fund, a foundation committed to independent research surrounding healthcare, reported that the United States ranks far lower than other high-income countries around the world. The organization noted that over a third of women in our country have refrained from getting essential medical care due to the cost of these procedures or examinations. igher rates of maternal mortality, higher rates of emotional distress, and a lack of access to adequate or regular care are some of the other women’s health issues on which the U.S. has performed poorly compared to other high-income nations.
Race-based Disparities in Women’s Health
Black women are more likely to die from cervical cancer than any other race in the United States. A 2019 publication from Human Rights Watch reported on how Black women in Alabama were significantly less likely to have access to medical care, particularly with respect to reproductive health. One of the biggest reasons for this is poverty. With systemic racism and barriers leading to a disproportionate number of Black women struggling to make ends meet, many of these women do not have insurance or access to transportation and time to receive proper care. Even beyond physical health, women of color often face deterrents to receiving mental health support. Asian American women are far less likely than other racial groups to seek out mental healthcare. Part of the reason behind this is a lack of cultural competency in Western therapy and healing frameworks, as well as the fact that there is not nearly enough research on mental health issues specific to Asian American women. Asian American women report higher rates of suicidal thoughts, but lower rates of seeking help. The different racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States face various different challenges when it comes to healthcare, and it is imperative that our system adapts to accommodate for the health of all people in our country.
Income-based Barriers to Healthcare Access
Far more women in the United States have cost related issues when it comes to their health situations. While countries like the United Kingdom and Sweden have an incredibly low rate of women with high out-of-pocket healthcare costs, a large percentage of American women do. Not only does this deter women with a lower income from seeking care, but it also results in women drowning in medical debts if they do receive medical assistance, whether by choice or due to an emergency. CNBC recorded that 32% of American workers have medical debt; more than 50% of these workers have defaulted on their debts. It is no secret that these statistics disproportionately affect single mothers, women of color, and other women who have been marginalized by society. Women with preexisting conditions were particularly vulnerable to predatory costs before the Affordable Care Act, which blocks the denial of health insurance due to a preexisting condition such as breast cancer or pregnancy. However, it is clear that women face several financial barriers to adequate healthcare despite these protections.
Ending Notes
Although the United States is often praised for our freedoms and opportunities, there are still several serious issues that women face in this country. In order for us to do better, we need to recognize that we have a problem, and this problem is costing lives. We need to address the intersection of gender, race, and income and how this affects lower income women of color the most. We need to move away from putting all of our faith in our systems and rather put the faith in ourselves to change these systems. Healthcare is not a luxury, but it is still treated as one. Healthcare is a human right, period. We need officials who will fight for us and our human rights.
sources:
Comments