Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist The Royal Free Foundation Hospital London, United Kingdom
Women and girls with bleeding disorders encounter haemostatic challenges of monthly menstruation and pregnancy related complications leading to multiple bleeding symptoms and complications with impaired health and quality of life. In addition, they face several barriers to health care due to lack of awareness, limited access and cultural issues leading to delay in diagnosis and treatment. Cultural issues that impact women and girls with bleeding disorders include societal belief and attitude about menstrual bleeding, normalising excessive menstrual bleeding or viewing it as a stigma preventing women from seeking help. Economic disparities and traditional gender role often deter women from advocating for themselves and prioritise family responsibilities over personal health. Health literacy and cultural myths and misinformation often mislead women affecting their willingness and trust in accessing medical care. There also remains lack of awareness and training among healthcare professionals on women health issues, cultural competence, and effective communication with women from diverse backgrounds resulting in women feeling dismissed and poorly understood when seek medical help. Women especially those from diverse cultural background are often underrepresented in clinical research in the field of bleeding disorders resulting in gaps in understanding and addressing their specific needs.
Addressing these cultural issues are essential in improving diagnosis and treatment for women and girls with bleeding disorders. It requires education of women and girls empowering them to advocate for their health, education of the family and community to foster open dialogues. Increased awareness and education of healthcare professionals, easy access to medical care and embedding cultural competence and gender sensitive practice in the healthcare system are also essential on achieving a better health equity for women with bleeding disorders
Learning Objectives:
It is established that WGBD remain undiagnosed and undertreated. This presentation address cultural issues that impact WGDB care and management and apprach to promot and achieve a better health equity for women with bleeding disorders.
