About Quality Healthcare for Women

In this article, we’ll examine a few of the obstacles to the advancement of high-quality healthcare for women. Additionally, some of the tactics and aspects that can be taken into account to increase women’s access to high-quality healthcare will be covered in the discussion. Given that women are the carriers of destiny, it is crucial that they receive the greatest medical care available in society (The Canadian Women’s Health Network). Won will be in a position to benefit from high-quality healthcare as a number of measures are taken at the same time to guarantee that their medical demands are respected and met in a skilled and effective manner. Some of the factors that have been identified to hinder the development of good healthcare for women include patient socio-demographic variables and physician socio-demographic variables. Other facts include patient cooperation, physician competence, the healthcare system, resources and facilities and other like patient’s illness. Factors that have been identified to be instrumental in improving women’s access to high quality healthcare include universal health coverage.

Factors hindering the good healthcare for women

The socio-demographic variable of the women patients affect how they interact with their physicians and consequently the quality of medical care that they receive. In situations whereby the patient are not in god understanding with the physicians, it becomes extremely difficult to disseminate quality care. Differences brought about by socio-demographic factors bring about disobedience of orders due to lack of understanding. This is a common problem that affects patient of both genders. The socio-cultural issues related to women makes it difficult to get the desired out for quality healthcare (Jackson, 2005).

Physicians need to be aware of and sensitive to the culture of their female patients, as they tend to be more sensitive. Knowledge of the socio-cultural variables enables the physician to effectively communicate to their patients and be in a position to attain the trust of both male and female patients. The physicians are able to adjust their communication with their patents after effectively determining the patient’s socio-cultural standing and variables (Bourassa, McKay-McNabb & Hampton, 2011). Due to the variances brought about by cultural and social differences, some female patients insists on asking their physician to prescribe medications for them as they believe that they can not be healed unless they take medicines. The persistence of patients to take specific medication pushes the physicians to prescribe just to satisfy the patient in as much as it might not fully solve their medical issues. Because of such differences, some physicians becomes complacent and even find it unnecessary to explain to the patient demanding prescription the process of medication

Inadequate robust referral system and minimum medical tariff makes the doctors to develop the tendency of meeting the irrational requests posed by their patients. Female patients are particularly know for presenting irrational requests that might underestimate the quality of medical services that they would rather receive. Patients also have easy access to affordable healthcare services and have the mentality that they can see any doctor they want at any place whenever they deem it fit for them. This choice makes the patient looses consistency of medical care since they can easily switch from one medical and health provider to the next (Government of Ontario).

The possession of information by the patients about the medical conditions they are suffering from makes them understand their conditions very well and can easily establish what they expect from their physicians whenever they visit. This knowledge and information and especially the patient’ awareness of their rights influences their expectation whenever they visit the physicians. Such attitudes and behavior are detrimental as they deprive the physician an opportunity to adequately assess their patients and give them the best medical care they deserve.

Physician socio-demographic variables

Physician socio-demographic variables are equally a hindrance in the development of good healthcare for women. The character and personality of the physicians handling the females determine the outcome of medical care. Physicians develop good rapport with their female patients by using characteristics such as respect, reliability, confidence, intelligence and helpfulness. Lack of good characteristics and development of bad attitudes towards the patient results in poor outcome of medical care. Physicians should be motivated to improve on their personality towards the female patients so that they can be of significant help in developing the quality of care their patient’s desire (Roberts, 2012).

Improving Women’s Access to High Quality Healthcare

Women are significant in maintaining healthy families and they are known to access healthcare system more often than men. Their frequent access to healthcare services is normally on their behalf or on behalf of their children. Therefore, adequate measures and factors should be considered to ensure that women benefit from the utmost quality medical care. Increased and efficient access to quality care can be achieved by ensuring universal health coverage for all the women. Universal health coverage ensures that all women, regardless of their age get equal healthcare. This measure is considered the best strategy in addressing women related health issues. It is a powerful facto that shows success in both low and middle-income countries across the world. Universal health coverage ensures effective deliver of quality services to the women in need of service. This coverage improves the leadership and management of critical elements in the healthcare system essential in reinforcing quality services to the women. It promotes coverage equity; financial protection for the women and this consequently positively improves the quality of healthcare services (Jackson, 2005).

Conclusion

Women are significant figure in the healthcare arena. They are known to be the largest visitors of medical facility for health services. Women deserve quality healthcare just like any other person in the society. Certain factors have been identified to be hindrances to quality in the delivery of medical services to women. These factors include patient socio-demographic and physician socio-demographic variables. These variables impair quality in healthcare delivery. Universal health coverage has been identified as one of the best means in improving women’s access to high quality healthcare.

References

Jackson, Beth E., et al. (2005). “”Quality Care is Like a Carton of Eggs”: Using a Gender-Based Diversity Analysis to Assess Quality of Health Care” in Canadian Woman Studies 24(1), 15-22.

Munch, S. (2004). Gender-based Diagnosing of Women’s Medical Complaints: Contributions of Feminist Thought, 1970-1995. Women & Health, 40(1), 101- 121.

Bourassa, C. McKay-McNabb, K. and Hampton, M. (2011)”Racism, Sexism and Colonialism: The Impact on the Health of Aboriginal Women.” Canadian Woman Studies/Les cahiers de la femme, (24)1, 23-39.

The Canadian Women’s Health Network 10 Differences Between Men and Women that Make a Difference in Women’s Health http://www.cwhn.ca/sites/default/files/resources/sexual_diff/index.html

Government of Ontario. Echo: Improving Women’s Health in Ontario. http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/ministry/research/docs/echo_improving_wom ens_health_in_ontario.pdf

Roberts, Dorothy. (2012). ”Debating the Cause of Health Disparities: Implications for Bioethics and Racial Equality” in Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics 21(3), pp. 332-341.