Hologic: U.S. ranks 30th in women's health, as care is no better off since height of COVID
Photo | Grant Welker
Hologic's Marlborough headquarters
Women’s global health has not improved since the height of the pandemic, and in some cases, their health has decreased. In fact, though the U.S. has the highest healthcare spending out of all polled countries, it ranked 30th in the world in regards to women’s health.
These facts were revealed in the third annual Global Women’s Health Index, a report released by Hologic, a Marlborough-based medical device manufacturer, in collaboration with Gallup, a Washington, D.C.-based independent research firm.
The study called on leaders of all countries to better prioritize women’s health, including with more funding.
The index represents the results of interviews conducted in 2022, polling more than 147,000 women and men from 143 countries and territories, measuring five women’s health dimensions including preventative care, emotional health, individual health, basic needs, and opinions of health and safety.
Sobering statistics
Achieving 61 on the Hologic global women’s health index score, a single-number summary indicator assigned to countries/territories from 0 (worst) to 100 (best) depending on women’s answers to the survey questions, the U.S.’s health index score was seven points higher than the globe’s average score of 54.
Taiwan ranked first in the world in regards to women’s health with a health index score of 72.
Directly preceding the U.S. in the global rankings are Australia, ranked 25th; Iceland, ranked 26th; Hong Kong, ranked 27th; Greece, ranked 28th; and Mauritius, ranked 29th.
Directly behind the U.S. are Kazakhstan, ranked 31st; Thailand, ranked 32nd; Lithuania, ranked 33rd; Slovakia, ranked 34th; and Kosovo, ranked 35th.
G20 member countries generally performed higher than the global average in regards to opinions of women’s health and safety and meeting women's basic needs of foot and shelter; and while the U.S., as a G20 member country, did score 15 points above the global average in regards to basic needs, it was one point behind the global average in regards to opinions of health and safety.
When compared to the other high-ranking G20 member countries such as Germany, Japan, South Korea, and China, the U.S. scored lower than the G20 average in the emotional health, opinions of health and safety, and individual health dimensions while scoring above the G20 average in the preventative care and basic needs dimensions.
“While the most recent Hologic Global Women’s Health Index survey results give us cause for concern, they also inspire us to redouble our efforts to enable healthier lives everywhere, every day, no matter where women live, how much money they have or their level of education,” Stephen MacMillan, chairman, president and CEO of Hologic said in the report. “This is our reason for being and we never lose sight of that purpose.”
The study didn't address access to abortion, which has become increasingly controversial in the U.S. since women no longer have the constitutional right to the procedure.
Preventative care
Globally, most women were not tested within the past 12 months for the four potentially life-threatening conditions of high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes, and sexually transmitted infection, a trend for the past three years.
The percentage of women who were tested for high blood pressure rose 2 percentage points from the year prior to 36% in 2022. Depending on age, this statistic has varying implications; people aged 18 to 39 without risk factors should be tested at least once every two to five years for high blood pressure while those 40 and older should be tested every year, according to the Mayo Clinic, a Minnesota-based healthcare provider and educational resource.
“Blood pressure tests detect high blood pressure — or hypertension — which is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Hypertension has been called “the most serious, neglected health problem for women in both developing and developed worlds,” because while it is relatively easy to treat, it often goes undiagnosed,” stated the release.
Only 11% of respondents reported having been tested for any kind of cancer within the past 12 months, a 1-percentage-point decrease from 2021. Suggested cancer screening regularities differ depending on type of cancer and age, according to the American Cancer Society, an Atlanta-based nonprofit advocacy group. The ACS recommends those 25 to 65 should be tested every five years for human papillomavirus to help detect cervical cancer; breast cancer screenings should begin in one’s 40s starting with one per year; and regular colon and rectal cancer screenings should begin at age 45 until around age 85.
The percentage of women tested for diabetes within the past 12 months stayed consistent for the past three years the survey was performed at 19%. Guidelines around screening for diabetes are not as clear cut as the other conditions polled; the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests those with type 2 diabetes risk factors should consult with their physician regarding screening regularity while pregnant women are typically tested for gestational diabetes between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy.
At 10%, the percentage of women tested for STIs in the past 12 months was the lowest out of the four conditions surveyed and represented the largest discrepancy between those tested and the screening guidelines. The CDC recommends sexually active people from the ages 13 to 64 should be tested for HIV at least once a year, sexually active women and girls younger than 25 years should be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia yearly, and women 25 years and older with risk factors including new or multiple partners or a partner with an STI should continue to be screened for gonorrhea and chlamydia yearly.
The U.S. and Canada region achieved a 35 on the index’s preventative care dimension score, a score assigned to regions and countries from 0 (worst) to 100 (best) depending on the amount of women tested for the four conditions within the past 12 months.
Though higher than the global average score of 19, the U.S. and Canada region didn’t break through to the top five highest-ranking countries/territories.
Puerto Rico ranked first on the list with a score of 51, South Africa ranked second at 42, Eswatini was third at 40, Lesotho was fourth at 38, and Portugal was fifth, also at 38.
Côte d’Ivoire in Western Africa had the lowest preventative care dimension score of 8.
Answering the wake-up call
“This year’s Index should serve as a global wake-up call. The data in this report lead to an inescapable conclusion: Across most dimensions, women’s health is seriously at risk. And even where we’re seeing improvements, the pace of progress is far too slow. If we don’t do more, and quickly, billions of women will suffer. The next generation of girls and young women will be at even greater risk,” read the report.
To surge progress in regards to women’s health, the Hologic health index report gives three universal recommendations:
- Global leaders must successfully follow through on their equitable commitments including their promises to include women and girls in decision making that pertains to their health and lives
- Countries must center and devote funds to promoting women’s health and safety
- Women’s health advocates must join forces across sectors to make sure that women’s health and safety are bolstered throughout different movements and causes.
Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare and diversity, equity, and inclusion industries.
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I have been able to observe these disparities in women's health, as my wife was pregnant with our son. It was a challenge to get her the care and attention she needed from her providers, and I know she is not alone in this experience. For a country with astronomically higher health care expenditures compared to other nations, one would think that we could place better in this index. Being a public health worker myself, I can certainly speak from experience that preventive health is not as prioritized as it should be versus the current reactive form of health care delivery we see today. Instead of a focus on acute care, we should be looking to prevent issues before they arise. This is especially true for women's health. It is indicative of a much bigger problem and should motivate change for betterment.
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