Progress and priorities in the health of women and girls: a decade of advances and challenges.
OBJECTIVE
Following the initial wave of federal support to address women's health, there is a need to assess successes and determine the next priorities to advance the health of women. The objective of this study was to systematically collect expert opinion on the major advances in women's health in the past decade and priorities for women's health research and service in the coming decade.


METHODS
We utilized a Delphi method to query the leadership from academic and community Centers of Excellence in Women's Health, as designated by the Department of Health and Human Services. Leaders from 36 of the 48 centers responded to a series of questions about the major advances and critical indicators to evaluate future needs in women's health. We utilized a social ecology model framework to organize the responses to each question.


RESULTS
The experts identified increased health education for women and increased empowerment of women across multiple spheres as the major advances positively impacting the health of women. The experts selected the following areas as the most important indicators to measure the status of the health of women in the future: health education and promotion, rates and impact of interpersonal violence against women, and access to healthcare. The major advances and measures of the health of women did not focus on specific changes to individual women in illness management, clinical care, or individual behavioral change.


CONCLUSIONS
As we move to address health reform, we must be able to recognize and incorporate a broad perspective on public health and policy initiatives critical to the health and wellness of women and girls and, therefore, central to the well-being of the nation.
Garcia
Francisco A R
FA
Obstetrics and Gynecology and Public Health, Center of Excellence in Women's Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA. fcisco@u.arizona.edu
Freund
Karen M
KM
Berlin
Michelle
M
Digre
Kathleen B
KB
Dudley
Donald J
DJ
Fife
Rose S
RS
Gabeau
Geralde
G
Geller
Stacie E
SE
Magnus
Jeanette H
JH
Trott
Justina A
JA
White
Hilary F
HF
D000288:Administrative Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D019985:Benchmarking / Q000592:standards; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000639:trends*; D003151:Community Health Centers; D003697:Delphi Technique; D005260:Female; D006292:Health Priorities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends*