Mid Life and Older Women's Health - Facts, Figures and Impacts

By Dr. Rachel Iredale, Senior Lecturer, Research Unit,
School of Care Sciences, University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd, Wales.

This review provides an overview of the health of mid-life and older women across Europe, capturing both differences and similarities in women's health between the Member States of the European Union (EU) and countries elsewhere.

It examines some key demographic and socio-economic trends, as well as some of the main causes of mortality and morbidity for mid-life and older women.

We have drawn upon many primary and secondary sources of information about health. The level of aggregation varies, ranging from national, Community, European and international levels.
The main data sources include the 'Health for All Database' of the World Health Organisation (WHO), data published by the statistical office of the European Communities (Eurostat), as well as various health data from the United Nations (UN) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Where possible and practicable, the most recent data available have been used.