2024-03-07 22:00:00
The surveillance of diseases and health behaviors is analyzed through different prisms in order to support prevention policies and promote good health for all. Although there are more women and they live longer than men, including without disability, they perceive themselves to be in poorer health and inequalities persist. On the occasion of International Women’s Rights Day, Public Health France recalls some findings from this work highlighting the importance of acting to reduce health inequalities between men and women.
Overall more favorable lifestyle habits among women
Daily smoking
According to data from the 2022 Health Barometer, the prevalence of daily smoking stood at 22% among women and 27% among men. It is among those aged 25-34 and 35-44 that the differences between women and men are the greatest: 26% of women aged 25-34 smoke daily compared to 36% of men (27% vs. 35% among those aged 35-34). 44 years). Conversely, among 18-24 year olds and 65-75 year olds, the prevalence of daily smoking is close (only 1 to 2 points difference in 2021). Thus, the gap in daily smoking between men and women which amounted to around 8 points between 2000 and 2014 is now between 5 and 7 points since 2016.
Alcohol consumption
Even if it remains high, alcohol consumption has decreased in France in recent decades and consumption patterns have evolved significantly. As with smoking, women consume less alcohol whatever the indicator considered. Fewer of them report drinking every week (28% vs. 50.5%) or every day (4% vs. 13%) and to have consumed beyond the lower risk consumption benchmarks during the last week ( 14% vs. 31%).
The differences in consumption between men and women remain very significant but it should be noted the slightly upward trends in significant one-off alcohol consumption (API in the year or each month, an API corresponds to drinking 6 glasses or more in one same occasion) among women, which tends to bring them closer to those of men for whom stability is noted. These trends particularly concern women aged 35 and over.
Diet and physical activity
Regarding dietary behaviors, the Esteban 2014-2015 survey reports that women’s food consumption is more often in line with nutritional recommendations than men’s, particularly regarding whole grain products (43% vs. 34%), dairy products. (30% vs 24%), meat excluding poultry (76% vs 59%), cold meats (43% vs 30%), or even sweetened drinks (76% vs 68%) and salt (30% vs 12 %). On the other hand, women report consuming more sugary products (64% vs. 54%) and fewer of them meet the recommendations of 30 minutes of moderate to high intensity physical activity per day (42% vs. 68%).
Despite reported better lifestyle habits, women perceive themselves to be in poorer health than men. According to data from the France 2021 Public Health Barometer, on average, among people aged 15-85, 65% of women consider themselves to be in good or very good health, compared to 71% of men. These differences appear particularly marked at certain ages, such as, for example, among 25-34 year olds (74% of men vs. 82% of men).
Work is more often an environment unfavorable to mental and physical health for women
Although women represent nearly 49% of the active population, disparities remain in terms of employment, working conditions and the consequences of work on health. Thus, according to the results produced by Public Health France, more than 11% of employed women are affected by a work-related illness. Work-related psychological suffering (SPLT) is twice as high among women as among men: 6% vs. 3%. Among women, the risk of LTSS was greater in the transportation and warehousing, construction, and industrial sectors. These sectors are often characterized by a sexual division of labor with a predominance of men in technical, manual or management jobs, while women tend to carry out so-called tertiary jobs, with administrative tasks such as customer service or once more human resources management, these professions being known as more frequently associated with SPLT.
Furthermore, 3 out of 5 women report pain related to musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). According to declarative data from the 2021 Health Barometer, nearly 60% of women aged 18 to 64 report MSDs of the back or upper limb (vs. 51% among men). In detail, nearly 50% of women report lower back pain or sciatica pain (vs. 40% in men) and 30% report MSDs of the upper limb (shoulder, elbow, carpal tunnel) (vs. 27% in men).
Gender relations most often unfavorable in the intimate sphere
According to data from the 2016 Health Barometer, sexuality still appears to be deeply marked by gender relations, even if significant changes have taken place over the last decade. From the first sexual relations to advanced ages, the declarations of women and men remain very different and reveal a female sexuality that is more often forced: 19% of women aged 18-69 declared having been confronted with forced or to attempts at forced sex during their lives versus 5% of men.
« Comparing the health of men and women based on some work by Public Health France offers a contrasting picture. The results highlight the challenges facing public health and encourage us to continue our actions in favor of more egalitarian environments, whether at work or in the private sphere, so that we can all live as long as possible in good health. »
Dr Caroline Semaille, Director General of Public Health France.
1710267932
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