The English version of the report has been published. (June 21, 2023) 

In conjunction with Women’s Health Week (March 1-8), Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) released a survey report, “Research Survey on Socioeconomic Factors and Women’s Health.”

The survey results suggest that menstrual symptoms and menopausal symptoms have a significant impact on women’s social life and cause economic losses, and that there are large differences in the utilization of menstrual leave depending on company size and employment status, suggesting the need for measures, including broad labor policies.

Four Recommendations

Recommendation 1: Recognize that initiatives for women’s health are not only important from the perspective of improving sexual and reproductive health and rights for women, but they are also vital from the perspective of reducing socioeconomic losses.

Recommendation 2: In view of the fact that many women are still suffering from dysmenorrhea or menopausal symptoms and refrain from seeking medical attention despite major struggles due to those conditions, advance initiatives centered around primary care and family obstetrics and gynecology to help women receive necessary care from physicians.

Recommendation 3: Correct disparities among companies, industries, and occupations, as well as between men and women, regarding general knowledge and systems for women’s health.

Recommendation 4: Create opportunities for comprehensive sex education during school and provide guardians with opportunities to refresh their education on such subjects through parents’ classes and workplace training programs.

For details, please see the PDF linked below.

The Research Survey on Socioeconomic Factors and Women’s Health Project Team (Titles omitted; in no particular order)

Haruka Sakamoto (Senior Manager, HGPI)
Shunichiro Kurita (Manager, HGPI)
Yukiko Kawata (Senior Associate, HGPI)
Shu Suzuki (Associate, HGPI)
Sayaka Honda (Program Specialist, HGPI)

Outside experts

Miho Iida (Assistant Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, Keio University)

Survey research collaborators (Titles omitted; in no particular order)

Shohei Okamoto (Research Fellow, Research Team for Social Participation and Community Health, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology)
Rei Goto (Professor, Graduate School of Business Administration, Keio University)
Shingo Kasahara (Graduate Student, Graduate School of Business Administration, Keio University)
Shuhei Nomura (Project Associate Professor, Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Medicine, Keio University)
Akifumi Eguchi (Lecturer, Center for Preventive Medical Sciences, Chiba University)

Sponsoring companies and organizations

Bayer Yakuhin, Ltd
Fuji Pharma Co., Ltd.

*While opinion exchanges were held with supporting companies and organizations when conducting this survey, decisions regarding whether to reflect opinions shared were made independently by the survey team.