Global Women’s Health
Advancing Equity Through Public Health Approaches
Nancy L. VanDevanter, PhD, MPH, EdM
Cheryl G. Healton,
Laurie C. Zephyrin, MD, MPH, MBA
Ann Marie Beddoe, MD, MPH
Understand the most urgent health challenges for women today and strategies to improve outcomes
This comprehensive overview of women’s global health explores the critical disparities stemming from systems, policies, and care across the lifespan. Grounded in systems thinking and intersectionality, the text empowers learners to address health inequities worldwide. Covering topics such as maternal health, violence against women, chronic and infectious diseases, and much more, it connects policy, infrastructure, and social determinants to outcomes. With a comparative global lens and focus on innovation, readers gain the tools to advance equity-driven solutions in diverse populations and settings.
Key Features:
- Global, lifecycle coverage spanning policy, populations, and major diseases impacting women across diverse settings
- Presents practical applications to analyze and address disparities across High-Income Countries and Low-and Middle-Income Countries using policy, systems thinking, and equity-focused frameworks
- Structured, interdisciplinary approach linking theory, real-world issues, and global comparisons for applied learning
- Edited by leading experts with extensive experience in global health, policy, research, and clinical care
- Instructor Resources include an Instructor’s Manual, PowerPoint slides, a Test Bank, and more
Contributors
Preface
Resources
SECTION I. WOMEN'S HEALTH ACROSS THE LIFECYCLE
Chapter 1. Global Women’s Health: An Introduction
Cheryl G. Healton, Juliana Upchurch, Nancy L. VanDevanter, Ann Marie Beddoe, Laurie C. Zephyrin
Chapter 2. Global Adolescent Health: Challenges and Opportunities
Ashley Halkett and Jonathan Klein
Chapter 3. Maternal Mortality and Morbidity — Implications of Systems and Policy Barriers and Solutions
Veronica Gillispie-Bell
Chapter 4. Aging and Women's Health
Victoria H. Raveis, Nancy L. VanDevanter, Andrea Norman McPherson
SECTION II. PRIORITY POPULATIONS
Chapter 5. Violence Against Women
Veronica Ades, Sophia Onadja, Lisa Pardee
Chapter 6. The Health and Healthcare of Women Service Members and Veterans
Jodie G. Katon, Lt Col Tonya B. Henderson
Chapter 7. Incarcerated Women Globally
Dawn Beichner-Thomas, Homer Venters
SECTION III. NONCOMMUNICABLE AND COMMUNICABLE DISEASES/RISK FACTORS
Chapter 8. Women and Substance Use: Causes, Scope of Global Impact, and Contemporary Challenges
Cheryl G. Healton, Megan Catlin, Juliana Upchurch
Chapter 9. Rapidly Changing Food Systems: Consequences for Women’s Health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Gloria Guevara Alvarez, Filippa Juul, Reet Kapur, Niyati Parekh
Chapter 10. Women’s Mental Health Around the Globe: Key Issues
Madeline A. Naegle, Sheryl Garriques-Lloyd (Reviewer)
Chapter 11. Women and Cancer
Ann Marie Beddoe, Erica Liebermann, Miriam Mutebi, Jacob Mobolaji, Peter Kingham
Chapter 12. Reducing Cardiovascular Disease in Women: A Global Challenge
Cheryl G. Healton, Juliana Upchurch, Ann Marie Beddoe, Laurie C. Zephyrin, Nancy L. VanDevanter
Chapter 13. Infectious Diseases in Women
Ann Marie Beddoe, Alexis Sims-Haynes, Bernice Dahn
SECTION IV. POLICY: THE KEY TO A HEALTHY FUTURE FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS
Chapter 14. Global Women’s Reproductive Health and Legal Advocacy
Rebecca B. Reingold, Sarah Wetter, Alison Durran
Chapter 15. Innovations in Women’s Health: Technology, Community, and Policy
Laurie C. Zephyrin, Faith Daniel, Mahathi Vojjala, Ishita Sunita Arora, Juliana Upchurch
Chapter 16. Hope for the Future: Driving Systems and Policy Change to Advance the Health and Human Rights of Women
Cheryl G. Healton, Juliana Upchurch, Ann Marie Beddoe, Laurie C. Zephyrin, Nancy L. VanDevanter
Glossary
Index
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- Release Date: October 28, 2026
- Paperback / softback
- 410 Pages
- Trim Size: 7in x 10in
- Number of Illustrations: 60
- ISBN: 9780826157089
- eBook ISBN: 9780826176158



