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.