Women's Health across the Life Cycle and Its Policy Implications

Abstract

Women have their own health problems, such as breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Physical and physiological changes and socioeconomic circumstances affect women’s health throughout the life cycle. The ‘2022 Korean Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Survey’ examined the health status of 5,567 women from adolescence to old age. As age increased, the level of good subjective health decreased, and the number of chronic diseases increased. The prevalence of depression was high among adults aged 19-39. Anemia and low body weight were found in adolescents and early adults, and the prevalence of major chronic diseases, including obesity and reproductive system diseases, was high in middle-aged and elderly people. Underweight and obesity were related to poor subjective health levels in all life cycles except for the elderly. Because women have different risk factors and health problems by life-cycle stage, it is necessary to develop health promotion strategies and support chronic disease management from a life-cycle perspective.