Nine Out of Ten Respondents to an XWHIN Survey Believe Women's Health Should Be a Higher Priority

Mental health, diagnosis, and preventive information are the areas in which respondents to a survey conducted by the XWHIN network identify the greatest gaps in women's health. This perception is accompanied by a call for greater priority in resource allocation: 92.2% believe women's health should carry more weight in resource prioritization, and nearly half report having experienced, either personally or among people close to them, a situation in which women's health needs were not adequately addressed.

The survey is part of the initial assessment conducted by XWHIN (Women's Health Innovation Network), the women's health innovation network coordinated by the Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR Sant Pau), which incorporates sex and gender perspectives into research and innovation. The public consultation collected responses from 154 people in Catalonia, 94% of whom are women, and was complemented by contributions from network members and stakeholders in the healthcare, scientific, business, and institutional sectors. This was an exploratory consultation designed to incorporate the public's perspective into the network's initial assessment, without claiming to represent the Catalan population as a whole.

Mental Health and Diagnosis Among the Main Gaps

Mental health tops the list of areas in which respondents perceive the greatest gaps, followed by diagnosis in general and information and prevention. Needs are also identified in reproductive health and cardiovascular diseases. The responses therefore highlight opportunities for improvement at different stages of care, from providing information to prevent health problems to detection and diagnosis.

These assessments are also linked to specific experiences. 48.7% report having experienced, either personally or among people close to them, a situation in which women's health needs were not adequately addressed. When asked specifically about gender differences in diagnosis or treatment, nearly half believe such differences clearly exist, while one-quarter believe they may exist.

The overall assessment of healthcare is more nuanced. Half of respondents believe that women's health receives fairly adequate attention, although another substantial group believes it receives insufficient attention. Only a minority consider the care provided to be fully satisfactory.

More Information to Recognize Health Inequalities

Lack of information is another key issue highlighted by the consultation. Nearly half of respondents consider themselves poorly informed about women's health and the specific issues affecting it. The perceived lack of awareness is even greater when respondents are asked about society as a whole: 87.7% believe the public is poorly informed or not informed at all about gender inequalities in health.

Healthcare professionals are the main source of health information, although personal networks, the media, and the internet also play a role. In this context, information and awareness-raising receive the strongest support, when respondents are asked which measures would be most important, closely followed by promoting research and improving diagnosis.

Respondents place the greatest trust in research and the healthcare system to drive these improvements. They also express widespread support for initiatives specifically focused on women's health and view the potential contribution of an innovation network positively. This interest is also reflected in a willingness to become involved: nearly two-thirds report being fairly or genuinely interested in participating in activities or surveys related to this field.

A Growing Network

The needs identified through this consultation, together with contributions from network members and the stakeholders consulted, will help define XWHIN's priorities and translate the initial assessment into new areas of work, collaborative projects, and research and innovation initiatives in women's health.

The network has expanded with 14 additional organizations and 24 more research groups and now brings together 38 organizations, 71 research groups, and more than 600 researchers. The new members include universities, research centers, healthcare institutions, professional associations, and public agencies, bringing complementary perspectives to address the identified needs and facilitate the application of knowledge to women's healthcare.