Doctor Anywhere has unveiled findings from a study with Bayer on Singaporean women’s health, which highlights the top concerns of women around their health, information and awareness gaps in addressing these issues, and the resulting
impact on their quality of life.
The local study, which surveyed 1,212 women here between 20-49 years old, aims to drive conversations and greater awareness, and to inform collaborative efforts to drive the future of women’s health in Singapore.
Top health concerns impacting women: Cancer and menstrual issues
Gynaecological cancers (86%) and menstrual issues (72%) rank among the top concerns expressed by Singaporean women surveyed when it comes to their health, and those who experience these issues report a moderate to extreme impact on their quality of life.
According to Dr Chen Lin, Anchor Doctor at Doctor Anywhere, common women’s health issues raised during consultations include concerns related to cervical, ovarian and uterine cancers, and painful menses. These issues often cause significant physical discomfort and inconvenience for women, affecting their productivity and performance at work and school.
Health information gap is a key barrier to seeking healthcare
While some women recognise that experiencing issues like extremely painful menses or heavy bleeding are not the norm, many hesitate in seeking medical help.
When asked about the biggest barriers faced in seeking professional help, women here cited medical costs (79%), fear of the diagnosis and outcome (47%) and fear of medical procedures (37%) as their top reasons.
In addressing the information gaps around costs and medical procedures, Dr Chen Lin notes,
“GPs are an effective first port of call for any women’s health-related concerns, where they can advise, share details about treatment options, and follow up with a specialist referral if necessary. In addition, it’s key to have regular health screenings as they help in early detection, treatment, and outcomes.”
“Costs are not exorbitantly high either – a typical GP consult costs around $30, along with Pap tests ($80) and HPV test ($96). Subsidised cervical screening tests can also be done at $2 to $5 at participating CHAS GP clinics, including DA clinics,” he adds.
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Female health remains a taboo workplace conversation topic
Even with greater local workplace momentum around employee health & wellness, women’s health issues continue to take a backseat, due to the perceived lack of understanding of colleagues and self-consciousness of individuals.
Respondents singled out co-workers/colleagues (42%) as the least understanding of concerns around female health, compared to their family, friends, and healthcare professionals.
Consequently, over half (55%) of women surveyed felt uncomfortable talking to their coworkers and colleagues about their female health, citing reasons such as it being a “personal/sensitive matter”; “they have no interest/are not understanding”, “worried what they think/will talk” and being “judgmental”.
In improving workplace awareness and support for female health, Dr Chen Lin notes,
“Coworkers, family and friends play a crucial role as the first support network, where their understanding can facilitate and encourage open discussion about such concerns and diagnosis.
Giving workers time off to seek treatment can improve efficiency – even if they miss some days, treatment can help them become symptom-free for extended periods of time.”
Lack of awareness on birth control options and contraceptive use cases
Despite a large majority (64%) of respondents being aged younger (25 to 39 years old) and highly educated (70% have at least a university degree), a significant number of respondents have not heard of common contraception options such as IUD copper (40%), vaginal rings (35%), IUD hormonal (33%), birth control injections (31%) and birth control patches (31%).
Dr Chen Lin notes, “When it comes to contraception, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Choosing a contraceptive method is a personal decision based on lifestyle and health conditions. Women should discuss contraceptive options with a doctor for personalised advice and planning.”
Driving conversations around women health issues in Singapore
Bayer and Doctor Anywhere have also announced a collaboration to educate women on common concerns, screening procedures and costs related to gynaecological cancers and menstrual issues, as well as on common contraception.
In response to the questionnaire findings, Doctor Anywhere has also placed educational information on birth control, common women health issues, periods via a dedicated microsite for women: doctoranywhere.com/women-health
Bayer is forming a Dedicated Women’s Health Task Force in a medical facility to investigate the prevalence of menstrual issues and its consequences such as endometriosis, and infertility, which will provide support and guidance in menopausal management in Singapore.
“As the global leader in women’s health, Bayer considers it important to collaborate with healthcare providers to focus on women’s health because women play vital roles in our community and are assets to the country’s economic growth.
The questionnaire revealed top concerns expressed by women when it comes to their health, main barriers in seeking medical help, and even revealed a surprisingly big impact on monthly menstrual concerns.
We believe in continuing these conversations of care to support women with a new initiative called Bayer for Her.” Yamini Prakash, Country Division Head for Bayer Pharmaceuticals Singapore, Malaysia & Brunei.
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