KUALA LUMPUR: Hologic Inc has released its latest Global Women's Health Index in partnership with Gallup, revealing a decline in women's cancer testing globally.
For the first time, fewer women reported undergoing cancer screening, with only 10% of those surveyed worldwide having been tested for any type of cancer in the past year, a drop of two percentage points since the Index’s inception in 2021.
In a statement, Hologic Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Stephen P. MacMillan said that the decline in cancer testing is a wake-up call for improving women’s health globally.
The index also shows that 38% of women could not afford food in the past year, while 32% of women said they could not afford adequate shelter.
More women also report feeling worried (42%), sad (30%) and felt unsafe in their communities 935%.
Additionally, many women face physical pain and health issues, with 34%reporting significant pain in the previous day, while 26% indicated that health problems impacted their ability to engage in daily activities.
The index assigns a women’s health score to each country or territory based on surveys from over 146,000 people across 142 countries.
Overall, the world scored 53 out of 100 on the index, with Taiwan topping the list at 68, and the United States ranked 37th, a decline from its previous position.
The index was released during an event convened by Goals House. – Bernama
