The survey found that almost half of the 15,262 eligible respondents had been clinically diagnosed with depression and / or anxiety and 66.9 percent of women reported feeling nervous, anxious or on edge nearly every day. Around one in five respondents reported difficulties with sleeping.
Just over half of the respondents identified as being overweight or obese but more than two thirds said they undertook at least two hours of moderate physical activity a week. 9.5 percent of women said they drank alcohol daily and 90.5 percent of respondents said they had not smoked in the past year.
Almost 60 percent of women surveyed said they would first search the internet for information if they had a health concern. Overall, the top five health topics women seek information on are:
• Weight management
• Nutrition / healthy eating
• Mental and emotional health
• Anxiety
• Menopause
The majority of women had visited a doctor one to five times in the past year, although women aged over 80 reported three to five visits. More than half of the respondents said they felt confident discussing health concerns with their doctor and asking questions, however one in five stated that there were issues they avoided discussing. Women in the 18 to 35 age group were more likely to report not being confident asking their doctor questions and discussing health concerns.
In most age groups respondents reported a preference to see a female doctor for women’s health issues. More than half of respondents in the 18-50 age group felt they had insufficient time in their day to attend appointments for health checks and 37.3 percent reported being unable to get an appointment when they needed to. The majority of women, 87.1 percent, said they understood most of the information their doctor told them.
The 2018 survey was the fourth annual Women’s Health Survey and had the largest number of respondents to date. Survey results are used to create various media content for Women’s Health Week which is now in its sixth year and which runs events across the country to promote women’s health.
Jean Hailes for Women’s Health is a not-for-profit organisation which aims to improve knowledge of women’s health from adolescence and through the various stages of the lives of women. The organisation was founded in 1992 and named after Dr Dorothy Jean Hailes, a General Practitioner who in 1971 established the first women’s health clinic in Australia.