Background

Women/Girls -

Women are of

• Different ethnic backgrounds
  
  
• Different religious beliefs or no religious beliefs
  
  
• Different ages
  
  
• Different political beliefs
  
  
• Different sexual orientation

 they may also:

• have a disability or no disability
  
  
• have dependants or no dependants
  
  
• be married, single or living with a partner.

Facts about Women's Health in Northern Ireland

• Lung cancer kills approximately 800 people here each year and accounts for about one quarter of cancer deaths in people under 75. For women here the death rate is already twice the Western European average and increasing.
  
  
• Breast cancer accounts for one in three cancer cases in women, one fifth of all new cancers diagnosed in women and almost one sixth of cancer deaths in women.
  
  
• Although our death rate from breast cancer is amongst the highest in Europe, it is declining, thanks to greater public awareness, screening and earlier treatment.
  
  
• Women are one and a half times more likely than men to report having suffered from any mental health problems.
  
  
• Amongst women, those in the lowest social class group (unskilled) are 60% more likely to experience some form of neurotic disorder than those in the highest social class (professional)