Life cycle approach

Over the years, women’s health needs have been addressed through maternal and child health programmes, focusing primarily on narrow aspect of their lives. With new knowledge and changing perspectives, women’s health is now being viewed holistically – as a continuum of care that starts before birth and progresses cumulatively through childhood and adolescence to adulthood and old age. This lifecycle approach extends beyond women’s reproductive role to encompass women’s health at every stage and in every aspect of their lives. Through this approach, other health issues affecting women that were previously overlooked, or thought not to exist, have become more apparent.

Henceforth, the determinants and responses to women’s health profile must consider all factors -and not only biological ones- such as the economic, social and cultural factors that affect their status, as well as gender relations between women and men. There is therefore a need for a new paradigm shift. This shift in perspectives will bring into focus the gender dimension in women’s health.

Source: WHO policies & strategies -Regional office for Africa, WHO