Women’s Healthcare in Italy from a long-term perspective has distinct features that differentiate it from other European countries. There were differences in creating a mandatory health insurance system and the slow implementation of public health protection. During the 20 years of fascism, this process encouraged mutual aid.
The health of women from conception to menopause is a series of reflections published by the Federation of Evangelical Women in Italy (FDEI). This publication provides biblical verses, short prayers, comments, and discussion points around 16 topics related to women’s health and well-being. Over the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the health of every individual. However, statistics show that women have often borne the brunt of lockdown-related consequences, including increases in domestic violence and economic insecurity, as well as unequal burdens of housework and childcare.
FDEI members discussed the plan for the special edition dossier online in March when Italy began its first stringent lockdown to contend soaring infections in the north of the country. Several members spoke about women who were unable to access necessary health care or services related to gender-based violence, which affects one out of four Italy-women’s Healthcare, according to ISTAT, the country’s National Institute of Statistics.
According to the market database, as defined in the WHO’s founding Charter, health encompasses “complete physical, mental, and social well-being”, and the dossier explains many of the numerous factors that prevent women from achieving these well-beings. Many issues are still viewed as taboo within Italian society and for the churches, such as gender-specific medicine and family planning clinics, abortion, AIDS, and eating disorders. According to the publication, many women who suffer from eating disorders have been sexually abused, usually in their childhood.
There are also few mentions of issues related to menopause or the cases of women undergoing mastectomy and being abandoned by their husbands. In addition to the ‘responsibility of motherhood’, another issue raised is the challenges of speaking about sexuality and gender dysphoria in the pages of the dossier.
Recent films that deal sensitively with abortion, AIDS, and female genital mutilation explore these questions. In 1978, abortion was legalized in Italy, but many doctors refuse to perform them because of a ‘conscientious objection’ clause. As a result of the pandemic, travel restrictions made it even harder for women to seek abortion counseling or services.
Italian hospital entirely devoted to gender medicine
In Milan, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco hospital dedicated one of its sites exclusively to women’s health, gynecological and pediatric vocations. This project was designed from June to October 2019, started in December 2019, and is still ongoing.
The first action taken was to admit only women to the Internal Medicine Unit. It specializes in treating common female pathologies such as autoimmune, vascular, endocrinology, and nephrology conditions. The Mental Health Unit already specializes in supporting pregnant and new moms, but now it will activate a “Mother-Baby Unit” to assist with possible hospitalization issues. One of the vital goals of the Occupational Medicine Unit is to provide support for women during maternity leave. Women’s developmental, reproductive, menopause, and senescence phases are addressed through new outpatient clinical paths. These programs combine disease epidemiology with sociological needs and are developed by multi-professional teams tailored to age-specific needs. Each month, a path is established for each area to address emerging issues.
According to the market database, with the birth of the first Italian hospital entirely devoted to gender medicine, women’s health can be treated holistically. Indeed, this is an important step in the general appraisal of gender medicine at the national and international levels.
Women’s Health and Protection Service
According to the market database, the Italian National Institute for Health Migration and Poverty (INMP) launched the Women’s Health and Protection Service in Rome on International Women’s Day. Italy women’s Healthcare and migrant women most in need of healthcare and psychological support can find a space for reception, information, and prevention in this service.
Vulnerable women will be provided space for reception, information, and prevention of healthcare and psychological support. A team of doctors, psychologists, nurses, social workers, cultural mediators, and attorneys work together to teach Italian and immigrant women about their rights, especially the right to health.
Women of all ages and nationalities can use the service at the INMP outpatient clinic in Rome from Monday through Friday. INMP workers are trained in assisting and have decades of experience, according to the center. The women who choose to use the service will reportedly be triaged at reception, enabling workers to link them with the services best suited to their needs.
In addition to bringing to light that which is left unsaid, the issues that women find difficult to discuss, the triage process will also help bring to light issues such as domestic violence, which has increased dramatically with the pandemic, according to INMP.
In collaboration with the regional anti-violence network, training courses will be provided for workers. Legal consulting will be available in cases where defense action needs will be required or police complaints filed. The Women’s healthcare market and its 10-year business outlook can be understood using Global Market Database.
