Women’s health is a cornerstone of societal wellbeing. Healthy women contribute not only to their own quality of life but also to the health, education, and productivity of families and communities. Yet despite its central importance, women’s health in many low- and middle-income countries—including India—remains insufficiently addressed. While maternal health has received significant attention over the past few decades, a broader range of health challenges affecting women continues to be overlooked.
Conditions such as anemia, malnutrition, non-communicable diseases, and cancers impose a substantial health burden on Indian women. These conditions are often preventable or manageable, yet they persist at alarming levels. As a result, women’s health represents not merely a clinical concern but a significant unmet public health problem with far-reaching social and economic consequences.
Gender inequalities in access to nutrition, education, healthcare, and economic opportunities continue to influence women’s health outcomes. In many households, women’s health needs are often secondary to those of other family members. Limited decision-making autonomy and financial dependence can delay healthcare seeking, leading to late diagnosis and poorer health outcomes (1). These structural factors highlight the need for a broader and more inclusive approach to women’s health across the life course.
Anemia: A Widespread Yet Preventable Burden
Anemia remains one of the most prevalent health conditions among women in India. According to the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5), nearly 57% of women aged 15–49 years are anemic, making it one of the most widespread nutritional deficiencies in the country (2). Iron deficiency is the leading cause, although poor dietary intake, infections, and reproductive health factors also contribute.
The impact of anemia goes beyond fatigue and weakness. Women suffering from anemia often experience reduced physical stamina, impaired cognitive performance, and decreased productivity. Research suggests that iron deficiency anemia can reduce physical work capacity by approximately 5–17%, depending on severity (3).
These productivity losses have broader economic implications. National estimates suggest that anemia may contribute to nearly 1–1.2% loss in India’s gross domestic product (GDP) due to reduced productivity and increased healthcare costs (4). For pregnant women, anemia is also associated with illness-related fatigue and complications that can result in several lost workdays, further contributing to economic and social burdens.
Malnutrition: The Double Burden
Indian women increasingly face a dual burden of malnutrition, where undernutrition coexists with rising rates of overweight and obesity. NFHS-5 data indicate that approximately 18–19% of women aged 15–49 years are underweight, while nearly 24% are overweight or obese (2).
Undernutrition compromises immune function and increases susceptibility to infections. It also contributes to adverse pregnancy outcomes such as low birth weight and maternal complications. In many rural settings, where women participate in physically demanding work such as agriculture, undernutrition can significantly reduce work capacity and economic productivity.
Conversely, overweight and obesity increase the risk of chronic diseases including diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. These conditions require long-term treatment and can lead to disability and reduced quality of life.
The coexistence of undernutrition and overnutrition reflects changing dietary patterns, urbanization, and socioeconomic transitions. Addressing this dual burden requires comprehensive nutrition strategies that target both deficiencies and lifestyle-related risk factors.
The Growing Burden of Non-Communicable Diseases
India is currently experiencing a rapid epidemiological transition characterized by a growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Women are increasingly affected by this shift. National surveys estimate that approximately 21% of women aged 15–49 years have hypertension, while 6–8% are living with diabetes (2).
These chronic conditions require lifelong management and can significantly affect women’s physical and economic wellbeing. Frequent medical visits, medication costs, and lifestyle restrictions may limit women’s ability to participate fully in work and household activities.
Moreover, women often delay seeking care because they prioritize family responsibilities over their own health needs. This delay can lead to late diagnosis and complications, further increasing the burden of disease.
Cancer Among Women: A Growing Concern
Cancer has emerged as another major health challenge for women. Breast cancer is currently the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women globally, accounting for nearly one-quarter of all female cancer cases (5). In India, breast cancer incidence has been steadily rising, particularly in urban populations.
Cervical cancer also remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in regions with limited access to screening and preventive services. Although effective prevention strategies such as screening and HPV vaccination exist, coverage remains uneven across the country.
The consequences of cancer extend beyond health outcomes. Treatment often requires prolonged medical care, repeated hospital visits, and recovery periods that can interrupt employment and impose financial strain on families.
The Hidden Cost of Women’s Illness
The impact of women’s health problems extends beyond disease statistics. Women play a central role in maintaining household wellbeing through caregiving, childcare, and food preparation. When women experience poor health, these responsibilities may be disrupted, affecting family stability and child development.
Productivity losses associated with women’s illness are often underestimated because much of women’s work occurs in informal or unpaid sectors. Even when ill, many women continue performing household tasks, resulting in what researchers refer to as “hidden morbidity.”
Consequently, the true social and economic burden of women’s health problems is likely far greater than what is captured in official health statistics.
Addressing the Unmet Need: A Future Game Plan
Addressing women’s health challenges in India requires coordinated action across health systems, nutrition programs, and social policies.
1. Adopting a Life-Course Approach
Women’s health interventions should extend beyond reproductive health to address health needs from adolescence through older age. A life-course approach emphasizes early interventions in adolescence, including improved nutrition, menstrual health education, and anemia prevention (6).
Such interventions can help prevent long-term health complications and break the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition.
2. Strengthening Primary Healthcare
Robust primary healthcare systems are essential for improving access to preventive services. India’s Health and Wellness Centres under the Ayushman Bharat initiative provide an opportunity to expand community-level screening for anemia, hypertension, diabetes, and cancers (7).
Integrating women’s health services into primary care can promote early diagnosis and timely treatment.
3. Scaling Up Nutrition Programs
Given the high prevalence of anemia and malnutrition, strengthening nutrition interventions is critical. Key strategies include:
- Iron and folic acid supplementation
- Food fortification
- Dietary diversification
- Community-based nutrition education
Community programs and women’s self-help groups can play an important role in improving awareness about healthy diets and micronutrient intake (8).
4. Expanding Screening and Early Detection
Early detection is essential for reducing morbidity and mortality from chronic diseases and cancers. Population-based screening programs for hypertension, diabetes, breast cancer, and cervical cancer should be expanded.
Low-cost methods such as visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) for cervical cancer screening have proven effective in resource-limited settings (9).
5. Addressing Social Determinants of Health
Women’s health is strongly influenced by social determinants such as education, economic empowerment, and gender equality. Improving girls’ education, increasing women’s workforce participation, and strengthening social protection policies can significantly improve health outcomes.
Empowered women are more likely to access healthcare services, make informed health decisions, and invest in the wellbeing of their families (1).
6. Strengthening Research and Data Systems
Finally, improving health surveillance and research focused on women’s health is essential for informed policymaking. Many health conditions affecting women—particularly mental health disorders and reproductive morbidities—remain underreported.
Gender-sensitive health policies informed by robust data can help design targeted interventions and improve healthcare delivery.
Conclusion
Women’s health in India represents a significant unmet public health challenge. High prevalence of anemia, malnutrition, chronic diseases, and cancers continues to affect millions of women across the country. These conditions not only compromise individual wellbeing but also result in substantial productivity losses and broader social consequences.
Addressing this challenge requires a comprehensive strategy that includes strengthening primary healthcare systems, improving nutrition programs, expanding screening services, and addressing the social determinants of health.
Investing in women’s health is ultimately an investment in national development. Healthier women contribute to healthier families, stronger communities, and more productive economies. Prioritizing women’s health is therefore essential for achieving equitable and sustainable development.
References
- Sen G, Östlin P, George A. Unequal, unfair, ineffective and inefficient: gender inequity in health. Lancet. 2007;370:1693-1697.
- International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), ICF. National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) 2019-21: India. Mumbai: IIPS; 2021.
- Horton S, Ross J. The economics of iron deficiency. Food Policy. 2003;28(1):51-75.
- NITI Aayog. Anemia Alert: Is the government aiming for cost-effective interventions? New Delhi: Government of India; 2018.
- Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, Laversanne M, Soerjomataram I, Jemal A, et al. Global cancer statistics 2020. CA Cancer J Clin. 2021;71(3):209-249.
- Patton GC, Sawyer SM, Santelli JS, Ross DA, Afifi R, Allen NB, et al. Our future: a Lancet commission on adolescent health and wellbeing. Lancet. 2016;387:2423-2478.
- Lahariya C. Ayushman Bharat program and universal health coverage in India. Indian Pediatr. 2018;55(6):495-506.
- Bhutta ZA, Das JK, Rizvi A, Gaffey MF, Walker N, Horton S, et al. Evidence-based interventions for improvement of maternal and child nutrition. Lancet. 2013;382:452-477.
- Sankaranarayanan R, Basu P, Kaur P, Bhaskar R, Singh GB, Denzongpa P, et al. Current status of HPV vaccination and cervical cancer prevention. Lancet Oncol. 2019;20:e637-e644.
