About 60% of females worldwide, representing 1.5 billion women, have not been tested for cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, or sexually transmitted diseases or infections in the last year, according to the second annual Hologic Global Women's Health Index.
Struggles to find enough food and shelter, a lack of educational opportunities, and threats to women's safety were some of the barriers that kept women from accessing preventive care. The barriers widen gaps in well-being across income, education, and location, according to the report released on September 21.
All 122 countries and territories evaluated by the index have significant room for improvement in women's health, Hologic said. The average global score was only 53 out of a possible 100, the highest score was 70 for Taiwan and the lowest score was 22 for Afghanistan. The U.S. had a score of 61, which ranks the country at 23.
The full report can be found on Hologic's website.
