Posted on 3 September 2024
The research – published by Health Equity North – has laid bare the unequal challenges faced by women living in the North of England. It involved Professor Kate Pickett, Academic Co-Director at Health Equity North, and Director of the Public Health & Society Research Group and the York Cost of Living Research Group at the University of York.
The report exposes the growing regional inequalities over the last decade and the impact this has on women’s quality of life, health, work, their families and communities.
Infant mortality
‘Woman of the North: Inequality, health and work’ finds that women living in the North have lower healthy life expectancy, fewer qualifications, worse mental health, and are more likely to suffer domestic violence or to end up in the criminal justice system than their counterparts in the rest of England. In addition, infant mortality is higher and abortions are more common.
The economic cost of these inequalities is also explored in the report which estimates women in the North lose out on a staggering £132m every week, compared to what they would get paid if wages were the same as women in the rest of the country.
Women in the North also contribute £10bn of unpaid care to the UK economy each year.
The report, which has been backed by the North’s two female Mayors Tracy Brabin and Kim McGuinness, puts into sharp focus the devastating effects that austerity, the cost-of-living crisis, economic uncertainty, the pandemic and unequal funding formulas have had on women in northern regions.
The research found:
A team of more than 70 academic, health, social care and policy professionals from across the North contributed to the report to explore some of the social determinants of health for women, and how they play out in the overall health of women in the region.
The extensive research covers employment and education, Universal Credit, poverty, caring, health and life expectancy, pregnancy and reproductive health, sexual health, mental health, domestic violence, criminal justice involvement, stigma, and marginalised women.
Falling behind
The report recommends a wide range of evidence-informed policy solutions for central government, regional government and the health service which, if implemented, could improve the current situation for women’s health.
Hannah Davies, Executive Director at Health Equity North, said: “Our report provides damning evidence of how women in the North are being failed across the whole span of their lives. Over the last 10 years, women in the North have been falling behind their counterparts in the rest of country, both in terms of the wider determinants of health and, consequently, inequalities in their health.
“There is a lot of work that needs to be done to turn the tide on the years of damage detailed in this report. But the situation for women’s health in the North can be changed for the better through evidence-based policy interventions.
“We need to see policymakers build on the ambitions outlined in the Women’s Health Strategy for England with focused effort to understand and address the regional inequalities in the many different facets of women’s health.”
Professor Kate Pickett said: “This report unpacks some of the wide-ranging challenges women face across many aspects of their lives, and the impact of these on their health. For women in the North, these challenges are often felt more deeply.
“We know that much of the inequality we see affecting women in the North is a direct consequence of poverty, which is completely unacceptable in the 6th largest economy in the world. Cuts to welfare and public health funding, the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis have hit the most deprived communities and the North hardest.
“We hope that the findings and recommendations act as a wake up call for government to make health and addressing health inequalities central to policies going forward.”
Economic impact
Dr Luke Munford, Academic Co-Director at Health Equity North, and Health Economist from the University of Manchester, said: “The significant economic impact of regional health inequalities relating to women in the North is made staggeringly clear in the findings of our report.
“Women across northern regions have heavy burdens placed on them – they work longer hours and are paid less, and they provide some of the highest levels of unpaid care for their loved ones. But all too often, this can come at a price as we can see in the health outcomes detailed in this research.
“To ensure a more economically prosperous region, we need policies that target the widening health inequalities faced by women in the North.”
Woman of the North: Inequality, health and work will be launched at an event in parliament on Wednesday, September 11, with the Women’s Health Ambassador for England, Professor Dame Lesley Regan, speaking.
The report recommendations include:
Regional government
Central Government
Health System
Health Equity North is a virtual institute focused on place-based solutions to public health problems and health inequalities across the North of England. It brings together world-leading academic expertise from the Northern Health Science Alliance’s members of leading universities and hospitals.
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A report – published by Health Equity North – has laid bare the unequal challenges faced by women living in the North of England.