Enhancing women's health: A call for social work research

Soc Work Health Care. 2016 Oct;55(9):732-751. doi: 10.1080/00981389.2016.1205706. Epub 2016 Aug 11.

Abstract

This article presents a critical synthesis of the social work empirical literature on women's health. In light of recent policy changes that directly affect women's health and social work, the authors conducted a literature review of recent publications (2010-2015) regarding social work and women's health nationally. Despite frequent accounts cited in the literature, there has been no comprehensive review of issues involving women's health and social work in the United States. The purpose of this review is to examine the current social work literature addressing women's health at the national (U.S.) level. This research presents a summary description of the status of the social work literature dealing with women's health, specifically 51 articles published between 2010 and 2015. Our search highlights the need for social work research to fill gaps and more fully address the needs of women across the lifespan.

Keywords: Health care; literature review; social work; women’s health.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Chronic Disease
  • Delivery of Health Care
  • Female
  • Health Policy
  • Health Services Accessibility
  • Humans
  • Mental Health
  • Research
  • Social Work*
  • United States
  • Women's Health*