92 per cent Indian women aware of feminine health issues, yet reluctant to act : Report

India: In a recent survey by Motherhood Hospitals, a specialty hospital chain offering comprehensive women, children, and fertility care services, revealed that 92 per cent women are aware that their feminine health can affect their mental or emotional health, but only a few take proactive measures. The survey also indicates that 50 per cent of the women are more likely to discuss their gynae health concerns with the female members of the family and the rest are comfortable discussing it with their friends or spouses, instead of a professional expert.

The survey was carried out to understand the priorities of new age women with regards to feminine health, trace the changes in consumer opinion with respect to female health and explore the reasons for this change. The report identified various factors that could be influencing, as well as, having an impact on their gynae health.

The survey was conducted via interviews with 225 women largely from SEC A and B from across millennials, Gen X and Gen Z categories across tier one cities in India.

Highlights of the survey included that 55 per cent of Indian women only visit gynaecologists for pregnancy related concerns, whereas 22 per cent visits for menstrual health issues. Only 11 per cent of women go for regular gynae check-ups and 33 per cent women opted for a follow up checkup after a week or two. Top three things that women do to take care of their gynae Health: Eating healthy, exercising regularly, and keeping stress levels in check

Commenting on the survey, Vijayarathna Venkatraman, CEO, Motherhood Hospitals, said “In the recent times with ease of access to digital resources, financial independence and higher levels of awareness, women’s general and reproductive health in India is gaining attention. This was also validated by our survey but the sore point which emerged is the inaction in taking proactive measures. Timely intervention can help control the condition from becoming unmanageable and posing further threats.”

The one-on-one conversations with surveyed women revealed that familiarity with the gynaecologist makes a big difference. Most women do not hesitate to talk about their feminine health issues with their gynaecologists, provided they are comfortable with the doctor and find them to have an unprejudiced mindset. A certain segment of respondents revealed, they prefer going directly to a women's specialty hospital when it comes to their regular gynae health checkups.

It can be deduced from the survey that while awareness and prioritisation of feminine health is high amongst the studied sample, it does not necessarily convert to action (in terms of visiting a gynaecologist), for various reasons. This sentiment leaves a vast opportunity to drive home the message that women need to prioritise their feminine health and take preventive action.