Epidemiology Of Women S Health

With contributions from leading authorities in the field, this text explores the major health challenges & conditions that specifically affect women.

Even though slightly over half of the U.S. population is female, medical research historically has neglected the health needs of women. However, over the past two decades, there have been major changes in government support of women's health research-in policies, regulations, and the organization of research efforts. To assess the impact of these changes, Congress directed the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to ask the IOM to examine what has been learned from that research and how well it has been put into practice as well as communicated to both providers and women. Women's Health Research finds that women's health research has contributed to significant progress over the past 20 years in lessening the burden of disease and reducing deaths from some conditions, while other conditions have seen only moderate change or even little or no change. Gaps remain, both in research areas and in the application of results to benefit women in general and across multiple population groups. Given the many and significant roles women play in our society, maintaining support for women's health research and enhancing its impact are not only in the interest of women, they are in the interest of us all.

Women and Health is a comprehensive reference that addresses health issues affecting women of all ages — from adolescence through maturity. It goes far beyond other books on this topic, which concentrate only on reproductive health, and has a truly international perspective. It covers key issues ranging from osteoporosis to breast cancer and other cancers, domestic violence, sexually transmitted diseases, occupational hazards, eating disorders, heart disease and other chronic illnesses, substance abuse, and societal and behavioral influences on health. In this second edition of Women and Health, chapters thoughtfully explore the current state of women’s health and health care, including the influences of sex and gender on the occurrence of a wide variety of diseases and conditions. All chapters have been extensively updated and emphasize the epidemiology of the condition — the etiology, occurrence, primary and secondary prevention (screening), risk factors, surveillance, changing trends over time, and critical analysis of the diagnostic and treatment options and controversies. Treatment sections in each chapter have been expanded to create a stronger dialogue between epidemiologists and women's health practitioners. Saves researchers and clinicians time in quickly accessing the very latest details on a broad range of women’s health issues, as opposed to searching through thousands of journal articles Provides a common language for epidemiologists, public health practitioners, and women’s health specialists to discuss the behavioral, cultural, and biological determinants of women’s health Researchers and medical specialists will learn how the gender-specific risks and features of one organ system’s diseases affect the health of other organ systems For example: Hormone replacement therapy used to treat imbalance within the endocrine system is also being used to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease; Drugs developed for type 2 diabetes are now being used in chemoprevention Orients the non-gerontologist about the importance of considering the entire life cycle of women within research designs and treatment plans Professors teaching courses in women’s health will use slides and additional materials to structure lectures/courses; students will use slides as a unique resource to study for exams

The second edition of A Life Course Approach to Women's Health is a timely addition to the literature, reflecting extraordinary gains in the evidence on women's health across the life course. This new edition provides an up to date and comprehensive review of scientific evidence and methodological developments in life course epidemiology, as well as new fields of research, such as integrative omics. This text reflects the focus of recent research, advances in technology, and the evolving nature of the field with its application in practice and policy. There are new chapters on endometriosis, lung function, cognition, gynaecological cancer, integrative omics, structural sexism, violence, health service use, and knowledge translation. Each chapter reflects the views of individual authors, within a common life course framework to provide a consistent approach across the book. This conceptual framework is summarised in the introductory chapter, with an outline of each topic covered. Key findings, common themes, and theoretical and methodological challenges are highlighted in the concluding chapter. Over 50 international researchers working on women's health and well-being from diverse fields have contributed to this new edition which is highly recommended as essential reading for anyone with an interest in women's health.

The National Institutes of Health Women's Health Initiative (WHI) is the largest research study ever funded by NIH ($625 million over 14 years) and is designed to test strategies to prevent cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, and osteoporotic fracturesâ€"leading causes of death, disability, and decreased quality of life for older women. Although the WHI has already begun, serious questions remain about its design, cost, and the likelihood that it can answer the questions it asks. This book evaluates whether the effort can be justified scientifically.

'... a very useful addition to teaching material in the medical sociology/health studies field that will also be of value for teachers and students in women's studies.' - Mary Ann Elston, Royal Holloway University of London, UK '... Established wisdom about gender inequalities is due for critical questioning. This authoritative and challenging collection ... from some of the most respected names in the field ... will be essential reading for students and researchers in gender studies and medical sociology.' - Professor Mildred Blaxter, University of East Anglia, UK This state-of-the-art collection reflects critically upon the current status of our knowledge about gender inequalities in health and develops an agenda for future research. Leading experts address a range of themes that are central to the development of the field. These include recent theoretical and methodological developments in sociology and social policy, and the significance of changes in gender relations following wide-scale economic and social changes with respect to the mental and physical health status of men and women. The collection focuses upon gender and health within industrialized nations including Britain, North America, Western and Eastern Europe. It will be of particular interest to students and practitioners of sociology, health policy, health studies and gender studies.

Reproductive Epidemiology introduces epidemiology students and health practitioners to a range of methodologies used to collect data and conduct analysis on reproductive epidemiology. The focus is to provide guidance on the use of methods appropriate for challenging and sensitive research topics, including sexual behavior, abortion, illicit drug use, and sexual abuse.

In Meeting Psychosocial Needs of Women with Breast Cancer, the National Cancer Policy Board of the Institute of Medicine examines the psychosocial consequences of the cancer experience. The book focuses specifically on breast cancer in women because this group has the largest survivor population (over 2 million) and this disease is the most extensively studied cancer from the standpoint of psychosocial effects. The book characterizes the psychosocial consequences of a diagnosis of breast cancer, describes psychosocial services and how they are delivered, and evaluates their effectiveness. It assesses the status of professional education and training and applied clinical and health services research and proposes policies to improve the quality of care and quality of life for women with breast cancer and their families. Because cancer of the breast is likely a good model for cancer at other sites, recommendations for this cancer should be applicable to the psychosocial care provided generally to individuals with cancer. For breast cancer, and indeed probably for any cancer, the report finds that psychosocial services can provide significant benefits in quality of life and success in coping with serious and life-threatening disease for patients and their families.