The Jean Hailes National Women’s Health Survey was conducted in March-May 2022. It attracted more than 14,000 respondents, and for the first time it was translated into Chinese (simplified), Arabic and Vietnamese. This year’s survey focused on the pandemic, providing the most up-to-date snapshot of how Australian women are faring in a ‘COVID-19 normal’ environment.

The survey revealed an alarming drop in the number of women rating their health as ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’ compared to five years ago, and a trend towards more women experiencing health problems, particularly younger women.

Nearly half of all women said their mental and physical health had deteriorated during the past two years. Sadly, one in five said their mental health had stopped them engaging in everyday activities, and 17% reported a pre-existing mental health condition had worsened.

The survey highlighted equity problems and differing health outcomes for women with disabilities, women from non-English speaking backgrounds, and those in LGBTI and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities. Where statistically significant, disaggregated data has been provided.

The survey also revealed that many women had missed health appointments due to the pandemic. One third said they had missed a dental visit, and one in five said they had missed a GP health check. Concerningly, eight per cent said they had missed either a mammogram to check for breast cancer or a cervical cancer screening.