Identifying the health care needs of women in a community by using gender analysis

The Healthy Community Council (HCC) is a community-based organization with the mission to increase the quality of life in the community. Members of the HCC recently conducted a community needs assessment using a cross-sectional study design. Of the 2,000 Non-English assessment instruments mailed, 750 assessments were returned for a response rate of 38% (sampling error = 3%). For the Hispanic population, telephone interviews resulted in 205 completed assessments (sampling error = 7%). The data was analyzed to identify the needs of women in the community. Gender analysis techniques were also utilized to evaluate the assessment data. Hispanic women self-reported their health as poor (19.6%) more so than non-Hispanic women (0.7%). Both Hispanic and non-Hispanic women reported difficulties obtaining needed health care above the Healthy People 2020 of 4.2%. Approximately 14.2% of Hispanic women and 5.2% of non-Hispanic women reported that they experienced difficulties when obtaining needed health care.

Data from the HCC assessment revealed that women in the community have some unique needs, especially among the Hispanic population. This information will help health care professionals plan and better provide needed services within the community. Social service organizations such as the health department, can also evaluate the services most needed for various populations within the community. As the financial strains continue to increase for many health and social service providers, the assessment data is essential in identifying and prioritizing the services needed for many of the subpopulations within the community.