Women’s mid-life health in Low and Middle Income Countries: A comparative analysis of the timing and speed of health deterioration in six countries

BACKGROUND: Mid-life is a neglected stage of women’s lives, particularly in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs). Birth injuries, menopause and manual labour can contribute to health problems in the mid-life. OBJECTIVES: This study analyses the relationship between women’s health deterioration and age across socio-economic groups in 6 countries (China, Ghana, Mexico, Russia, South Africa and India). METHODS: Using constrained cubic splines, I analysed data from the WHO SAGE survey to examine age and wealth patterns in the onset of deterioration in objective proxies of ageing. RESULTS: Results show a clear pattern of deterioration in health in middle-aged women. Ageing processes differ dramatically between rich and poor strata within countries and between countries. DISCUSSION: This study clearly shows that the onset of ageing in women in LMICs begins in the early forties. The paper highlights the need to focus more on mid-life health of women, in particular poorer ones.