Gender-based approach needed to broaden understanding of women's health problems in Arab world
April 02, 2012
Dubai, UAE: On average women live six to seven years longer than men. However, the leading causes of death in women such as ischemic heart disease, stroke, lung disease, breast and cervical cancer can be easily prevented through simple screening tests and lifestyle modifications. In the past, work on women's health was focused on the health problems of women during pregnancy and childbirth. A gender-based approach has broadened our understanding of women's health problems and helped identify ways to address them for women of all ages.
The Obs-Gyne Exhibition & Congress 2012, organised by Informa Exhibitions in association with Arab Association of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Societies' (AAOGS), is a platform dedicated to the scientific debate of women's health in the Middle East. Taking place at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre, the event will continue tomorrow (3 April) with more than 800 industry professionals returning for another day of lectures on the latest practices in midwifery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, women's healthcare and breast cancer.
According to Dr. Humeira Badsha, Consultant Rheumatologist, Al Biraa Arthritis and Bone Clinic in Dubai, and Advisory Board Member of the Women's Health Programme at Obs-Gyne 2012, cardiovascular disease, for example, is now known to be a major cause of death among women.
"The problem is that this is not well recognised leading to delays in treatment-seeking and diagnosis among women. The identification of gender differences in cardiovascular disease has made it possible to develop more effective health promotion and prevention strategies that have improved women's health in many countries," she says.
At the symposium, stroke and lung disease were also discussed as a major cause of death for women all over the world.
"About nine million women have a stroke each year and three million of these die as a consequence. High blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol are the main factors contributing to stroke. Although in this part of the world, women smoke less than their western counterparts, testing and controlling high blood pressure is the only way to prevent this killer disease," Dr. Badsha explains.
Hundreds of millions of women worldwide are affected by chronic lung diseases such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases), asthma and bronchitis with more than three million people worldwide dying from COPD alone. "COPD and asthma are the most common lung diseases in the region although the exact prevalence is unknown, it is under-recognized and the rates are rising," says Dr. Badsha.
The Obs-Gyne Exhibition & Congress 2012, organised by Informa Exhibitions in association with Arab Association of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Societies' (AAOGS), is a platform dedicated to the scientific debate of women's health in the Middle East. Taking place at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre, the event will continue tomorrow (3 April) with more than 800 industry professionals returning for another day of lectures on the latest practices in midwifery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, women's healthcare and breast cancer.
According to Dr. Humeira Badsha, Consultant Rheumatologist, Al Biraa Arthritis and Bone Clinic in Dubai, and Advisory Board Member of the Women's Health Programme at Obs-Gyne 2012, cardiovascular disease, for example, is now known to be a major cause of death among women.
"The problem is that this is not well recognised leading to delays in treatment-seeking and diagnosis among women. The identification of gender differences in cardiovascular disease has made it possible to develop more effective health promotion and prevention strategies that have improved women's health in many countries," she says.
At the symposium, stroke and lung disease were also discussed as a major cause of death for women all over the world.
"About nine million women have a stroke each year and three million of these die as a consequence. High blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol are the main factors contributing to stroke. Although in this part of the world, women smoke less than their western counterparts, testing and controlling high blood pressure is the only way to prevent this killer disease," Dr. Badsha explains.
Hundreds of millions of women worldwide are affected by chronic lung diseases such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases), asthma and bronchitis with more than three million people worldwide dying from COPD alone. "COPD and asthma are the most common lung diseases in the region although the exact prevalence is unknown, it is under-recognized and the rates are rising," says Dr. Badsha.
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