WOMEN'S HEALTH IN THE 21st CENTURY: CHALLENGES AND INNOVATIONS IN GYNECOLOGICAL AND OBSTETRIC CARE IN THE FACE OF INEQUALITIES, DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL CHANGES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56238/arev8n2-052Keywords:
Gynecological Care, Obstetric Care, Health Inequalities, Epidemiology, Women's Health, Digital Technology, TelemedicineAbstract
Women's health in the 21st century develops within a context marked by profound demographic transformations, changes in the epidemiological profile, the persistence of social inequalities, and the progressive incorporation of digital technologies in gynecological and obstetric care. The objective of this study was to analyze the challenges and innovations in contemporary gynecological and obstetric care, considering health inequalities, recent epidemiological data, and the role of digital technologies in organizing women's health care. This is an integrative literature review, conducted according to the six steps proposed by Mendes, Silveira, and Galvão, with searches performed in the PubMed, SciELO, and Virtual Health Library databases, using controlled descriptors from DeCS related to women's health, gynecological and obstetric care, health inequalities, digital technology, telemedicine, and epidemiology. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, eight studies comprised the final sample of the review. The results show that maternal mortality remains a sensitive indicator of inequities in care, with persistent racial and territorial disparities, especially among Black women and those residing in the North and Northeast regions of Brazil. An association was also observed between disrespect and abuse during childbirth, obstetric violence, and negative impacts on mental health during the pregnancy-puerperium cycle. Recent epidemiological changes, intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic, have exacerbated pre-existing weaknesses in obstetric care. The incorporation of telehealth has proven to be a relevant innovation for expanding access to and continuity of care, although limited by digital exclusion and structural inequalities. It is concluded that strengthening gynecological and obstetric care in the 21st century requires addressing social, racial, and territorial inequalities, coupled with the equitable and regulated incorporation of digital technologies, in order to guarantee comprehensive, continuous, and quality women's health care.
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References
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