Some Aspects of Women’s Health in Republic of Macedonia

Mirjana Dimovska; Mirjana Borota-Popovska; Marija Topuzovska-Latkovikj; Svetlana Pavleska-Kuzmanoska; Dragan Gjorgjev

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2022.10851

Authors

Mirjana Dimovska Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Macedonia, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia; Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2587-3188
Mirjana Borota-Popovska Institute of Sociological, Political and Juridical Research, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
Marija Topuzovska-Latkovikj Institute of Sociological, Political and Juridical Research, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
Svetlana Pavleska-Kuzmanoska University Clinic for Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
Dragan Gjorgjev Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Macedonia, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia; Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2587-3188

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2022.10851

Keywords:

Women’’s health, Macedonia, Mortality patterns, Computer-assisted personal interview

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Sex and gender "matters" in terms of the health status as well as a result of both biological and gender-related differences.

AIM: To analyze sex and gender-based differences in North Macedonia through analysis of some aspects of mortality, the knowledge and attitudes related to women’s health.

METHODS: Analysis of the general and age-standardized mortality patterns and CAPI (Computer-assisted personal interview) composed on different topics including women's health for the period 2017-2020 were used.

RESULTS: Age-standardized mortality rates (all-causes of death, circulatory and respiratory diseases and neoplasms) are prevalent and higher in the male population in North Macedonia. A significantly higher all-cause mortality trend for both sexes was found in 2020 making this year hardly comparable with the previous years. A decreasing trend of malignant neoplasms rate of female genital organs and an increasing trend of breast cancer mortality is observed.

The majority of the respondents (50.6%) rated their current health status as excellent with a statistically significant difference between the age and ethnical groups. One-third of the respondents reported regular physical activity, mostly on a daily basis. The majority (39.3%) are overweight and 27.5% belongs to the obesity class I without a significant difference in terms of ethnicity.

Respondents (27%), reported that have high blood pressure, 20.2% vaginal infections, 19.9% allergies, heart issues 15.1%, anemia 11.7%, while diabetes and cancer 8.5% and 2.5% respectively. The youngest and oldest age group of Albanian women are the least informed about the early detection procedures of malignant compared to Macedonian women and other ethnic groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Analyzing some aspects of women's health in North Macedonia through the mortality, knowledge and attitudes of Macedonian women, we provide some further evidence for the development and implementation of targeted interventions and policies aimed to reduce the sex and gender-based health inequalities in the country.

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