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Women's Health Survey 2017

The Jean Hailes Women’s Health Survey is an annual national study designed to help us better understand the health information needs and behaviours of women living in Australia.

We’ve sought to understand where, how and in what way women access information about their health. These findings inform our work, allowing us to better target specific health needs most relevant to women in Australia.

About the research: 10,377 participants aged 18-89 years living in Australia responded to the survey.

Download the full report PDF.

How healthy are women in Australia?

Which health conditions are women in Australia concerned about and what preventative measures are women taking? We also sought to understand how women seek medical assistance and from whom they prefer medical counsel on female issues.

Echart weight

Do we think we're overweight?

We asked: How would you describe your current weight?

If there's one thing I could do...

If you could improve your health right now, what would be the first thing you would do?

Infographic1

Too tired to get active

We asked: What influences your physical activity levels?

Echart active

We recognise anxiety/depression and know to seek help

We asked: Thinking about the last two weeks, how often have you been bothered by:

Echart anxiety
Echart diagnosis mental health

We asked: Have you ever been diagnosed with depression or anxiety by a medical doctor or psychologist?

Health professional holding heart 650 434

Every hour of every day an Australian woman dies of heart disease. In Australia, 90% of women have at least one risk factor and 50% of women have two or three risk factors. The good news is that many of these risk factors can be reduced with positive lifestyle changes.

National Heart Foundation 2017

Oh no, we don't know...

Echart cholesterol

We asked: Do you know what your current cholesterol level is?

Echart active 2

Are you active? What percentage of women in Australia are participating in 2.5 hours/week of moderate intensity physical activity regularly according to age group?

Vitamin D deficiency is surprisingly common with 30% of adults suffering from mild to severe levels of deficiency. The greatest source of Vitamin D is from skin exposure to sunlight, so a few minutes of sun a day can do the trick. Look up the Osteoporosis Australia website for the exact timing required.

Dr Rachel Duckham, Research Fellow, Deakin University, AIMSS
Woman jogging bone health
Echart checking up

Checking up

We asked: In the past 12 months how many times have you visited the doctor (for your own health)?

Echart female doctors

We prefer female doctors for female issues

We asked: Who would you prefer to see for women’s health issues?

What women want to know

What health information would women like, and which health issues are the most important to women in Australia?

Too much or too little information?

We asked: Which of the following health topics would you like more/less information on?

Echart too much or little information

Food is central to women's lives, but with the advent of the internet there is confusion about what is the right information and what is quackery. Women are looking for a trusted source of practical healthy eating advice that suits their life stage and health needs.

Jane Willcox, GradDipDiet, MMktingBus, PhD Casual Research Fellow, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University
Green spinach in hands1 650 432

What's most important to women in Australia?

Whats important

How women want their health information

There are now more channels than ever to receive information, but how do women in Australia prefer to seek their health information? Which sources do women trust for reliable health information?

Who do we trust?

We asked: Please indicate how trustworthy and reliable you find the following sources of health information

Echart trust

How women in Australia prefer health information

We asked: Please rank the options below, indicating the way in which you prefer to receive women's health information

Echart health info rankings

Hello digital doctor!

Images infographic2
Top five health issues worry

Top five health issues that women in Australia worry about

  • Menopause
  • Bone health
  • Breast health
  • Bowel health
  • Painful sex
Report downloads
National Women's Health Survey - past years