Women's health
Women's voices
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12287680 |
|---|---|
| Authors | N Charles (0000-0003-4242-017X, Swansea University, corresponding author), Vivienne Walters (McMaster University) |
| Year | 2007 |
| Volume | 2 |
| Issue | 6 |
| Pages | 329-338 |
| Publication date | 2007-06-08 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Health & Social Care in the Community (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0966-0410 • E-ISSN: 1365-2524 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/j.1365-2524.1994.tb00182.x |
| OpenAlex | W2049840696 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 5 |
| References cited | 15 |
This paper presents the results of an exploratory study into the health concerns of women in South Wales. The objective was to obtain information on the way in which women view their own health and the health issues that concern them. The research design replicated a study carried out in Canada by one of the authors. Sixty-five women were interviewed using a structured interview schedule. The core question on the interview schedule took respondents through a list of 68 health and social problems. They were asked to indicate whether they had been worried about or had experienced any of these problems in the previous 6 months. The results support the findings of the Canadian research that reproductive health is not central to women's health concerns. On the contrary, among the most frequently mentioned problems were tiredness, stress, headaches and arthritis. The most frequently mentioned social problem was worrying about money. Women linked their health concerns with other problems such as unemployment, problems combining child care and paid employment and worrying about money. These problems created stress and, in turn, stress either led directly to ill health or else helped to foster ‘unhealthy’ life styles. Women were aware of the possibly harmful effects on health of smoking or drinking, for example, but resorted to them in order to cope with their stressful lives. One of the main conclusions of the study is that it is essential to incorporate women's health concerns into the policy-making process. Women's main health concerns are related to the stressful nature of their lives and, particularly in South Wales, to poverty and unemployment. So-called unhealthy lifestyles are often a response to stress and enable women to cope. This needs to be taken into consideration by health promoters. Finally, more research is required into women's health concerns and their understanding of health and illness
Economic growth · Environmental health · Exploratory research · Health problems · Psychiatry · Reproductive health · Schedule · Sociology · Unemployment · Health disparities and outcomes · Health, psychology, and well-being · Medicine · Obesity and Health Practices · Psychology · Gerontology
For Her Own Good
The political economy of health
Women, health, and healing
Health and illness. The lay perspective
Gender and class as dimensions of smoking behaviour in Britain
Stress, anxiety and depression
The causes of disease
Women, health and medicine
Class, paid employment and family roles
Food for Feminist Thought
Myths of Gender
| Citations per year | 0.17 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 1997 - 2002 (6) |
| Highly cited | No |