In 2000, the United Nations ’ Member States committed to achieving eight basic development objectives by the year 2015 known as the Millennium Development

Goals (MDGs) (1). The most relevant MDGs related to women’s health are to promote gender equality and empower women; improve maternal health; and combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases. Although gains have been made in all of these areas, the proposed quantitative targets have not been met at the global level. Thus, equality in primary education between boys and girls was achieved, but women continue to suffer discrimination; maternal mortality fell by 45 % (2), while the target was 75%; and although gains were made in treatment coverage for HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases, 50 women are still infected with HIV every hour (3), and malaria caused 627 000 deaths in 2012 (4). In 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) published its report, “Women and health. Today’s evidence, tomorrow’s agenda ” (5). The research behind this publication confirmed the following facts: (a) there are broad, persis-tent inequities between men and women, between high- and low-income coun-tries, and within countries; (b) chronic diseases, injuries, and mental disorder