A Life Course Approach to Women’s Health

Abstract This opening chapter sets out the central aim of this book to update and reviews the scientific evidence and methodological developments in life course epidemiology as applied to women’s health. It introduces life course epidemiology, which is the study of the contribution of biological and social factors acting independently, interactively, and cumulatively during gestation, childhood, adolescence, and adult life on health outcomes in later life. The chapter then provides an outline of the contents, taking the opportunity to highlight different aspects of the life course approach covered in each chapter. It concludes with a discussion of the recent developments in the adoption of a life course approach in national women’s health strategies.