Health care and medical services is an important sector of Swedish welfare. The Swedish national health care system is designed to give everyone equal treatment and care irrespective of his or her economic, social or health circumstances. In addition, every inhabitant from the age of 16 is eligible for social insurance benefits, including sickness benefit.
The average life expectancy for Swedish women and men is 81 and 76 years respectively. However, studies show that women have more symptoms of ill-health and use medical services more often than men. Women, in particular elderly women, also take more sick leave than men. Women's impaired health situation cannot be explained by biological factors, however. The causes are rather to be found in women's social situation and in their working conditions. In recent years, therefore, much attention has been directed to issues related to women's health and safety at work.
Sexual and reproductive health is an issue with longstanding traditions in Sweden. Sex education is, since long (it was first introduced in 1942), an integrated part of school education for both boys and girls, normally already from the first grade. Sex education comprises education about sex, health and personal relationsships. Contraceptives and contraceptive guidance is regularly offered by the maternity care centers as well as by independent centres, youth clinics and the health and medical care system. Abortions are free up to the 18th week of pregnancy. For later abortions, special permission is required. A woman who has asked for an abortion is always offered the possibility of counselling.
A variety of means have been and are continously being employed in the combatting of sexual transmitted diseases (STDs).
Measures 1995 - 1997
* One of the five programme areas within the Institute for Public Health concerns women's health. It's programme statement points out that legislation, research, education, working life, medicine and other treatment are mostly based on men's needs and conditions. During 1995, the Institute financed several regional and local projects related to women's health. Measures have also been undertaken directed to young women. During 1996, special attention was directed towards the health situation of personel (mostly women) working in the care sector.
* In 1995, the Government allocated funds (SEK 1,5 million) for development projects with the aim of integrating issues concerning women's health into the basic medical education as well as in further training programmes for medical doctors.
* In August 1996, a committee with the task of investigating the way women and men, respectively, are received and treated by the health and medical services, presented it's final report to the Government. The committee proposes, inter alia, increased support to research related to women's health, further measures to integrate a gender perspective in medical and other education in this fields, and ways and means for evaluation and monitoring of progress in this field. The report is presently studied within the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs with a view of taking further measures in the field of women's health.
* Several measures have been undertaken to support women with disabilites. Funds have been allocated for projects and other development work, with the aim of strengthening disabled women's possibilities for rehabilitation and access to various forms of assistance. The Ministry for Health and Social Affairs has initiated several studies in order to increase the knowledge about the living conditions for women with disabilities and the difference in conditions between disabled women and men. The Office of the Disability Ombudsman works actively to promote issues related to disabled women.
* Measures have also been undertaken in the area of women's health and safety at work. The National Board of Occupational Safety and Health has been charged with the task of paying increased attention to women's and gender issues. The Institute for Working Life has initiated several studies on the health situation in occupational sectors dominated by women.
Continued measures
* The Government will take further action on issues related to women's health and gender-based differences in the activites of the health and medical sectors, inter alia, based on the report submitted by the above mentioned committee.
* Continuing attention will be paid to the situation of disabled women. Ways and means to improve statistical indicators related to women and men with disabilities will be studied.
* Sweden will continue it's active international work to promote issues related to sexual and reproductive health, not least in order to contribute to the implementation of the results of the UN, Cairo- and Beijing Conferences. These issues therefore play, inter alia, an important part in Sweden's international development cooperation.
