A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine highlights a troubling decline in women’s health in the United States. The finding raises urgent questions about research funding and health equity that resonate beyond borders, including in Thailand. Despite wealth and medical capacity, American women are living shorter lives and facing higher disability in later years. The report also notes alarmingly high maternal mortality and violence, alongside chronically underfunded research on women’s health.
For Thai readers, the findings offer a cautionary tale and a prompt to act early. If the world’s wealthiest nation can struggle with women’s health equity and research prioritization, what steps should Thailand take to avoid similar gaps?
The report presents a sobering picture: in 2021, U.S. women’s life expectancy was 79.3 years, about four years lower than women in Costa Rica and eight years behind Japanese women. Among 38 OECD countries, the United States ranked 33rd. Experts point to a mix of factors—higher rates of smoking, obesity, substance use, and suicide—tied to broader social issues such as sexism and racism that fuel health disparities.
Researchers from Brown University emphasize that the life expectancy gap has widened, with women not only living shorter lives but spending a larger share of their later years in poor health. A gerontologist at the University of Southern California notes that, while women gain more years, many of those years are burdened by disability.
The report also highlights persistently high maternal mortality in the United States, with outcomes far worse for non-Hispanic Black women, who are about 3.5 times more likely to die around childbirth than white women. A team from the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of Maryland links these disparities to systemic racism across social, political, economic, and health systems.
A CDC analysis shows that about 84% of maternal deaths between 2017 and 2019 were preventable, signaling weaknesses in health system readiness and in tackling structural inequities that endanger women of color. This dynamic mirrors challenges seen in diverse societies, including Thailand, where inequities in access to care and social support shape health outcomes.
The report also raises concern for younger women. Rates of suicide and homicide among women aged 25 to 34 have risen, with American Indian, Alaska Native, and Black women experiencing the steepest increases. For example, homicide among young Black women rose notably in the past two decades, reflecting broader social vulnerabilities, limited mental health resources, and gaps in protective services.
New analyses reviewed by researchers at the University of Michigan suggest that restrictive abortion laws correlate with poorer health outcomes, including higher complication risks and significant financial hardship. The 2022 Supreme Court ruling overturning a national abortion precedent is expected to widen these risks and disparities, threatening safe reproductive care and economic stability for many families.
The authors warn that closing gaps in women’s health will require more than funding alone. It will demand targeted action, prioritization, and oversight to ensure results.
A troubling finding is the chronic underfunding of women’s health research by the National Institutes of Health. Although the Office of Research on Women’s Health has existed for decades, less than 9% of NIH’s budget is dedicated to this field, and that share has fallen. Many NIH centers do not place women’s health at the forefront of strategic plans, and grant review panels often lack detailed expertise in women’s health, reflecting a historic bias in medical research.
The call from the National Academies is for reforms: elevate the Office of Research on Women’s Health to become a full Women’s Health Research Institute with broader scope and stronger oversight. A new interdisciplinary research fund and more reviewers with women’s health expertise are also recommended.
What does this mean for Thailand? While maternal mortality and life expectancy differ, the underlying challenges are shared. Gender disparities in access to care, underrepresentation in clinical studies, and a medical system that sometimes overlooks women’s specific needs are relevant to Thai health policy. Thailand has already achieved remarkable progress in reducing maternal mortality, but gaps persist—especially among ethnic minorities, rural communities, and migrant workers. The experience from the United States provides a timely reminder to fortify Thailand’s own approach.
Key lessons for Thai leaders and researchers include prioritizing gender-sensitive clinical research, ensuring women’s health is a clear priority in health plans, and fostering cross-sector collaboration that includes educators, social scientists, and women’s rights advocates alongside medical professionals.
Practical steps for Thailand to consider:
- Increase targeted funding for women’s health research with transparent reporting and clear objectives
- Ensure women’s health experts are represented in grant panels and policy discussions
- Collect and analyze data disaggregated by sex, ethnicity, geography, and socio-economic status
- Support interdisciplinary and community-based research that covers mental health, reproductive rights, violence prevention, and economic empowerment
- Learn from global experiences to safeguard progress and avoid policy missteps
For Thai families and policymakers, the U.S. crisis underscores that economic growth alone does not guarantee health equity. Sustainable progress requires sustained investment, thoughtful policy design, and vigilant oversight. Drawing on local values and Buddhist-informed compassion, Thailand can strengthen support for women’s health across life stages through concrete actions and inclusive policy making.
The broader takeaway is clear: neglecting women’s health has wide-reaching consequences for families, communities, and the economy. Thai leaders and the public can use these insights to build a more resilient, inclusive health system.
Sources in this revised piece integrate findings from national and international research organizations without listing external links. For context, Thai readers may consult national health statistics and reports from Thailand’s public health agencies, along with regional analyses from global health organizations, to deepen understanding of women’s health trends in the Thai setting.