This is a research paper for Women’s health class.

Factors Affecting Women’s Health, Well-Being, and Quality of Life
Mihaela Sofineti
NUR 4020. 2731
Prof. Linda M. Konecny
02/27/2013

 

 

 

 

 
It is known that women across the globe have been perceived as inferior to men. They were banned from many rights in the society. For this reason women have been neglecting their health. There are many factors that affect women’s health, well-being and quality of life, more vulnerable being poor women, ethnic minority women, lesbians, and elderly women. Along with these factors, culture plays a vital role in women’s life as it shapes their being in the society. Women of any status experience stress, and management of it is essential to all women’s well- being.
Factors affecting poor women’s health include socioeconomic status. At risk of poverty are single mothers who need to nurture and raise their children, and women without education. These women lack essential funding and knowledge to uphold a healthy life. Tyer and Cesario (2010) state that educated girls have better birth outcomes, such as full term baby, and better employment opportunities. Having low income or no income, lack of health insurance can lead to poor health outcome, and this contributes to illness and premature death (Condon, 2004). Women’s poverty status in the society has resulted from inequalities in employment and pay, limited empowerment that created the barriers to healthcare (Tyer & Cesario, 2010). In addition, poor women are more prone to domestic violence without any support to stop the abuse (Tyer & Cesario, 2010). As a result of poverty, gender inequality, lack of education, poor women have low self-esteem, poor self-care, and feel powerless, therefore their health is compromised, as well as their children’s (Condon, 2004).
Another factor affecting women’s health is ethnicity. Ethnic minority women, such as African American women, Latinas, and Asian women, are living in poverty, discrimination and lack social support (Condon, 2004). The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) supports that ethnic minority groups lag behind in quality of care, timeliness, and outcome as compared to white population. According to AHRQ(2013) disparities of care exists among ethnic minority groups in areas such as mental health and colon cancer screening. Ethnic minority women face challenges when it comes to healthcare. This population is more prone to poverty, inequality, lack of health insurance, language barriers, and these issues are barriers to healthcare (Condon, 2004). Also, ethnic minority women are more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors such as eating fast food, smoking, or unsafe sex. Condon (2004) states that minority women experience discrimination from healthcare providers such as “lack of respect, inattention, and judgments remark” (p.23), and are therefore less likely to seek medical treatment. In addition, minority women receive less prenatal care, and lack education as these have a great impact on health care (Konecny, 2009, Women’s Health [PowePoint slides]).
Factors affecting older women’s healthcare are poverty, multiple health illnesses, and minimum support systems. Older women are likely to receive less social security benefits and pension especially ethnic minority women, and this contributes to their poverty. Medicare doesn’t cover for all the medical services older women require, therefore their health is poor. Elderly women tend live alone or be placed in long term care facilities, as they live longer (Condon, 2004). As a result of poor financial status, several health conditions, reduced benefits, and living alone, older women face numerous difficulties to achieve optimal wellness in those golden years.
Lastly, lesbians, women that have sexual interest in other women, are also placed to difficulties when it comes to health care. Some factors affecting their health are underutilization of screening health services, lack of health insurance, and sexual discrimination. Condon (2004) writes that lesbian women are less likely to seek preventive care. Screening services are vital in detecting many diseases such as STD, breast cancers, cervical cancer. Many lesbians have no health insurance and this may be the stop from receiving preventive care. Another important factor that lesbians are reluctant about seeking health care is that they are facing discriminatory behaviors from health care providers (Condon, 2004).
Culture influences greatly women’s health, and is defined as “a system of rituals, tradition, ideas, symbols and customs practiced within a group” (Condon, 2004, p.23). As a result health care provider must be knowledgeable and understandable toward each culture to appropriately care for ethnic minority women. Elements of a specific culture include music, art, food, and beliefs about health and illness. Culture has an increased impact on women, like limited freedom and autonomy. For example, in some cultures women cannot travel outside the home without male partner, cannot receive education, or cannot visit a male health care provider (Tyer & Cesario, 2010). As a result they lack autonomy to better health and wellness.
The health belief, practice and treatment are transferred from older generations, and are respected by youth. For example, Asian culture practices for centuries traditional methods such as acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, and herbal remedies for health restoration (Spector, 2009). Asians maintain their health by nutritious foods, exercise such as tai chi, and charms to ward off the evil. Asian culture believes in holistic paradigm that is body has to be in balance with the nature and environment (Codon, 2004), therefore health is “a state of spiritual and physical harmony with nature” (Spector, 2009, p.234). Asian women are believed to be healthier than other ethnic women, particularly due to their diet rich in vegetables and low fat. In addition, some barriers to heath care in this culture would be language barrier, and health related beliefs. For instance, Asian women after giving birth they practice “hot” remedies, such as hot tea, or water, to restore body balance. Also, after giving birth they do not shower, bathe or drink cold fluids (Condon, 2004).
African American culture has different health practices. One traditional method of treatment is prayer. Also, home remedies have been utilized such as wood herbs for colds, fevers, and inflammation, minerals like bluestone for open wounds, or turpentine for contraceptive (Spector, 2009). Being overweight is known to cause many health problems such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer, but in some cultures of Africa being overweight is a sign of wealth. Traditional methods of healing in African American culture include Voodoo, a belief system with rituals and procedures that has curative outcome (Spector, 2009). African Americans are resentful to use medical services. According to Spector (2009) they are feeling powerless and alienated from the health system, and they would rather “suffer in silence” than feel discriminated. Part of it is because many leave in poverty, and feel segregated from the rest of the population.
Among American Indians there are a variety of health beliefs and practices. This culture uses many herbal remedies to heal all kinds of illness such as globe mallow for cuts and wounds, or fleabane for headaches. In addition, they practice purification of the body, where the body is immersed in water with different herbal medicines to cleanse the body and spirit (Spector, 2009). This culture is characterized as having a significant alcoholic problem that increases risk for motor vehicle accidents, fetal alcohol syndrome, and domestic violence. Another important factor about this culture is that they are resentful seeking health care. American Indians enter in conflict with health care provider, as they feel disrespected because there is a misunderstanding of illness perception, and many of them seek advice and treatment form medicine man or woman first, and then health care provider if needed (Spector, 2009).
Just like other cultures, Latinos also use different health related practices. Many Latino cultural groups believe in supernatural and spiritual practices as these are believed to cause or treat an illness as a result of patient’s behavior. For example, if a woman has been practicing cultural offensive behavior, some form of wrongdoing, she will be punished by the spirits with some form of illness (Spector, 2009). Latinos frequently use curandero, a folk spiritual healer that uses herbs for different illnesses. Similarly to Asian group, this culture believes that illness is an imbalance in hot and cold, and “cold illnesses are treated with hot remedies; hot diseases are treated with cold or cool remedies” (Spector, 2009, p.302). For example, menstruation is classified as cold, and women will use hot remedies to restore the balance (Spector, 2009). Latinas face barriers to health care such as language barrier, as many times they need to use their children to translate, poverty, and interestingly time orientation as Latinas pay little attention to the time of the day (Spector, 2009).
Stress is an innate natural human response to life’s demand; it is experienced as a pressure or urgency, and is an essential part of life (Konecny, L.M. (2009). Women’s Health. [PowerPoint slides]). According to Cleveland Clinic women are particularly susceptible to stress as they are perceived by society to be the caretakers. Majority of women have a professional career, and at the same time are housewives and mothers as well, resulting on work overload. As a result women feel tremendous pressure as they struggle to balance those important functions daily. Women are emotionally aware of their responsibilities, and feel guilty if unable to pursue others’ needs. As a result of gender inequities in the workforce, women experience job stress as they feel less powerful and less paid in the workforce (Cleveland Clinic, 1995-2009). Then, stress at home is felt as women try to keep family life flowing smoothly. Midlife women experience developmental period stressors as these critical changes in that period of life impact their health (Darling, Coccia & Senatore, 2012). Health stressors such as increased body weight, along family, financial, and work strains impact women’s “physiologic behavior, psychological symptoms and changes in coping skills like sleep and physical activity pattern” (Darling et al., 2012, p.31). Change is an overwhelming life stressor such as moving, new job, or loss of a job, divorce, birth of a child, or death in the family, that challenges a woman in any stage of life. As a result of these stressors women feel tension, anxiety, anger, depression and if stress is not balanced appropriately it can damage their health and well-being.
Darling et al. (2012) writes that life satisfaction is key to well-being for women, with mental health and physical health as leading components to life satisfaction. To enhance life satisfaction, and reduce stress, Darling et al. (2012) suggest positive coping mechanism such as adequate sleep, and regular physical activity. In addition, educational programs about weight and health should be developed and conducted to assist women (Darling et al. 2012). Cleveland Clinic presents some solutions to cope or minimize the stress. Women should plan for personal time to refresh body and mind. For example activities such as taking a bath, reading, listening to music, or chatting with a friend account for great rebounding of self. Also, regular exercise is of importance since it improves well-being of women, along with dancing, and walking. In addition, women need to prioritize their time based on principle, so they can better manage their daily tasks and decrease the tension of too many responsibilities. Another suggestion is that women ask for help, delegate tasks, and say “no” if needed to relieve that overwhelming state. If needed women should seek professional help such as individual psychotherapy, support group therapy or relaxation training to learn how to ease the stress.
In conclusion, a variety of factors affect women health, well-being, and quality of life. Some of these factors include status of women that is socioeconomic, ethnicity, elderly and sexual orientation. Culture also contributes to women’ health as women from different cultures will respect its health related customs and practices. Then, stress greatly influences women’s health in many ways as women are seen more emotional and caretakers of many life’s challenges, but there are ways to cope and minimize stress.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (February, 2013). Minority Health: Recent
Findings. www.ahrq.gov
The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. (1995-2009). Emotional Wellbeing: Stress and Women.
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/healthy_living/Stress_Management/hic_Stress_and_Women.aspx
Condon, M. C. (2004). Women’s Health: An Integrated Approach to Wellness and Illness. New
Jersey: Prentice Hall
Darling, C.A. Coccia, C. Senatore, N. (2012). Women in Midlife: Stress, Health and Life
Satisfaction. Stress & Health: Journal of the International Society for the Investigation of
stress, 28. 31-40.
Konecny, L.M. (2009). Women’s Health. [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from https://bbhosted.cuny.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_50_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_804336_1%26url%3D
Spector, R.E. (2009). Cultural Diversity in Health and Illness. (7th ed.). New Jersey: Pearson.
Prentice Hall.
Tyer, L.A. Cesario, S.K. (2010). Addressing Poverty, Education, and Gender Equality to
Improve the Healthcare of Women Worldwide. Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and
Neonatal Nursing, 39, 580-589.