ONE out of every 117 adult females in the Southern Health Board area is at present dying from cancer, heart disease or disease of the circulatory system a on women's health has revealed.
It was also estimated that one "in six births (16.8 per cent) in the Southern Health Board area were to unmarried mothers.
Last year, according to the report, there were 1,691 adult female deaths from these diseases out of a total population of 197,718 adult females. It says that "a significant proportion" of these deaths "could be prevented or postponed by changes in lifestyle, particularly a reduction in cigarette smoking."
The report adds that the most prevalent forms of cancer in women were those of the breast, lung and colon.
"For both sexes, skin was the most common cancer site. Apart from skin, cancer of the breast was by far the most frequently occurring cancer in females as compared with lung cancer in males."
Female breast cancer was the second most frequent cancer overall, although only half the population is at risk. One woman in 14 could expect to develop breast cancer before the age of 75.
The most common types of cancer among adult females in the region were those of the breast, lung and colon. This mirrors the national pattern of female deaths. "It is notable that there were 73 adult female deaths from lung cancer in 1994 in this region, a largely preventable cause of death," the report added.
The report said that last year about 25 per cent of women in the region used the oral contraceptive pill at some stage, and more than 10 per cent used hormone replacement therapy.
Some 36 per cent of women were breastfeeding their babies after discharge from maternity hospital, and 11 per cent were still doing so three months later.
However, a separate study in a socially deprived area found that only 7 per cent of mothers resin dent there were breastfeeding their babies on discharged from hospital.
In line with the national tern, and reflecting the longer expectancy of women, the number of women in the elderly population (37,017) exceeded that men (28,971). In Kerry, 22 per cent of the adult female population was more than 65 years age, while in Cork city the figure was 17 per cent and in Cork county, 18 per cent.
At a news, conference yesterday Dr Elizabeth Keane, director of public health in the SHB, said it was estimated that one in six births (16.8 per cent) in the Southern Health Board area were to unmarried mothers. This compared with 19.7 per cent for the" whole country.
She added that it was mainly younger women who were giving birth outside marriage. Last year a total of 9,450 births out side marriage were registered in the State and one in four of 5 were to teenagers.
"The rising number of births to single mothers is a matter for concern, given that teenagers are less well equipped physically, emotionally and financially for motherhood and child rearing.
"While the problem is a social one, the health board can play a role by ensuring that young people in second level, both boys and girls, receive the necessary education to ensure that they are aware of the risks of early pregnancy," Dr Keane said.
The report, compiled by an advisory group of the SHB, is the result of widespread consultation with women in the region and will be forwarded to the Department of Health before the publication later this year of its plan for women's health services.
Between October 1995 and February of this year, some 1,300 women attended 150 discussion workshops.
This process showed that women wanted more access to health services, better services in the remoter areas of Cork and Kerry, and services better designed to meet the needs of women.