History and advances in women's health care: a narrative review

Abstract

The role of women in society is dynamic, and its history demonstrates various achievements, along with persistent challenges. Comprehensive care and effective public policies are fundamental to ensuring a more equitable and healthy environment for all women. From the period when women were predominantly associated with motherhood to the present day, significant achievements in the political, social, and professional spheres are evident. This work is a narrative review, using Scielo and PubMed databases in the second semester of 2023, with the main objective of highlighting what the literature reveals about advances in women's health care. The evolution of women's roles in society is a complex narrative with persistent challenges, such as gender-based violence. Therefore, professional training is important to monitor women in their different life cycles, adapting to the evolution of their history. Women's empowerment seeks equality of opportunities, although additional challenges have emerged during the pandemic, highlighting gender disparities. Public policies are of great importance for ensuring equitable monitoring.