The Health of Women in Japan - Research Paper Example

The health of women in Japan Health issues vary by gender and identify need for a higher level concern by women. Unique health conditions that women have such as pregnancy and processes that relate to their reproductive organs are some of the reasons for interest in women’s health. In addition, even health issues that affect both men and women identify need for concern about women’s health because the issues affect women in different ways from their effects on men. women, for example, are more likely to succumb to cardiovascular complications that men are. Similarly, women are more vulnerable to stress and anxiety and easily report associated symptoms than men do. Incidence and prevalence of sexually transmitted infections also identifies higher risks and worse symptoms in women than in men (MedlinePlus 1). Consequently, human health is significant and should be investigated for populations and subopulations and results compared for decisions and initiatives that can help in improving women’s health. This paper discusses the health of women in Japan and argues that the sub population enjoys good health standard. Sexuality is one of the major factors to health, and women’s health in particular. The fact that women are more susceptible to sexually transmitted diseases than men are, based on reports by MedlinePlus (1), therefore indicates significance of sexual behavior on women’s health. in japan, women have shunned down the use of contraceptives and this has direct implications on their health. The women prefer other birth control alternatives and condom use is the most significant, accounting for up to 80 percent of birth control initiatives while only 1.3 of the country’s women uses pills. This is far less that pill usage in the United States in which more that 15 percent of women uses pills. Use of pills however substitute condom usage and its implication of unprotected sex means exposure to sexually transmitted diseases. Consequently, fewer of Japanese women are exposed to sexually transmitted diseases than women from other regions are and this suggest better women’s health in Japan. Effects of some sexually ransmitted diseases such as HIV are examples and are therefore minimized in Japanese women though use of condoms instead of pills as contraceptives. Decreasing trends in teenage pregnancies in the country as well as lower abortion rates in Japan also suggest increasing effective uses of the predominant birth control mechanisms, use of condom being predominant, and this indicate healthy sexual behavior towards better women’s health (Associated Press 1). Official statistics also supports high standards of women’s health in Japan. Life expectancy is one of the indicators of health and the higher the value, the better health is associated with a subject population. Japanese women enjoys high life expectancy, among the best in the world. In the year 2012, for example, they had a life expectancy of 86.41 years and this was the best in the world. The value was further reflective of average value that even though reduced to 85.90 in the year 2011 due to natural calamities, resumed its average value that is higher. These suggests that Japanese women are among the most healthy women in the world and factors in their environment account for the good health. Healthy diet is one of the factors that could have such effects as boosted immune system, and facilitated body mechanism in the women to improve their quality of health. Active lifestyle is another factor that contribute to the women’s health and effects of physical exercise and activities that helps to prevent and manage health complications such as obesity and cardiovascular diseases explains this. Japan’s economy that allows for adequate investment in health facilities is another factor to the good health standard among the women. This means that health complications can be addressed to ensure quality of health and a longer lifespan for women (AFP Relax News 1). Diets that are low in fats are characteristics of meals in japan and contributes to the women’s good health and delayed mortality. Dependence on the nation’s traditional meal that consist of “fish, rice, and simmered vegetables” is one of the major factor to effects of low level fat intake on the populations health. the women also enjoy easy access to health care that means that emerging health concerns can be addressed before they become severe to threaten life. Some of the testimonies from Japanese women such as on abstinence from smoking and consumption of meat are examples factors to the good health. other factors that food are also significant to the health. lifestyle that includes domestic roles ensures women’s engagements in physical activities that could keep them fit and healthy that their males. This is the traditional culture and even though the current generation of women may be deviating from it, it has been significant. Even liberal older women who are not keen on their diets and lifestile are skeptical of western diets and this could explain the role of Japanese diets on the high quality of life among the nation’s women. There could however be other underlying factors to the high quality of life among Japanese women because even the liberal that do not observe their diets and still smoke enjoy life to old age and these could be what McCurry define as nationality (1). Kovacs supports the role of Japanese diets on health of women, and even men, in Japan. The author defines it as a healthy foundation that comprises of “fish, vegetables, and fruit” (1). The author then associates this with the higher lifespan in Japan than in other countries. Lifespan of women in the United States is for example is for example lowe that that of Japanese women by six years while that of United States men is lower that that of Japanese men by four years. Based on the diet that is low on fats and calories, Japanese women are less susceptible to obesity than women in other developed countries are. Incidence rate of obesity in Japanese women is for example three percent, the lowest among developed countries while other developed countries register very high rates such as 11 percent for France and 32 percent for the United States. Statistics further show that Japanese consumes about 25 percent lower calories than average consumption, per person, in other countries and this explains lower rates of obesity and other terminal illnesses that are associated with high fat and calorie intake (Kovacs 1). In addition to the type of food, Japanese also monitor their eating times and prefer home made food to foods in restaurants. Consequently, effects of diet play an important role in the nation, as much as efforts towards managing other chronic complications do (Gaijipot 1). Despite the high life expectancy that Japanese women report and the identified factors to high level of quality of life, issues still exist that identify challenges to women’s health in Japan. Morbidity is one of the major problems and a comparative trend between men and women shows its greater significance in women. Even though men in japan reports morbidity t lower ages that their female counterpats do, morbidity is more significant in women. Women stay with their disabilities for a longer period than men do and this has consequences as need for care facilities and investments in care giving for the gender. The fact that women have longer lifespan than men, in japan, also means that the women may be spending significant time under need for care and this may reduce their quality of life at old age, despite living for many years. Change in the social environment, together with the morbidity factor also identifies a threat to women’s health at their old age. Unlike traditional culture in which younger people assumed care of the elderly, the current generation is shying away from the responsibility and even though they may place the elderly under care facilities, a sense of isolation may derive the elderly of utility in their lives. associated stress may then lead to other complications to compromise quality of life of the women in their older years (Tsuji, Sauvaget and Hisamichi 142- 146). the high quality of health that women enjoy in Japan may also not last fo a long time and one of the reason to this is the aging population. In addition to needs for care that might not be available at home, the aging population is likely to excert pressure on available resources for provision of care. It will mean more people, including women, who need care and less human resource for providing the care. In addition, a decreasing work force due to the aging population would increase the government’s burden of care provision for the elderly. Scarcity of resources for provision of care services that women enjoy currently may therefore threaten quality of life and even lead to a lower life expectancy of women in Japan. Government’s expenditure of health services if for example estimated to double in future and this increment, while human resource is expected to decline, is a threat to the government’s ability to sustain deliver of care services (The Economist 1). Legalization of abortion is another detrimental factor to the health of women in Japan. Even though it has advantages such as controlled facility, a solution such as use of condoms and other contraceptives exist for this. However, abortion may have medical and psychological complication that may limit a woman’s quality of life its legalization may therefore be a challenge to women’s health in the nation (Ogino 1). Read More