Women Caregivers’ Engagement With Healthcare Services for Their Personal Healthcare Needs: A Scoping Review

The objective of this scoping review is to map the extent, range and nature of literature pertaining to women caregivers and their engagement with healthcare for their personal healthcare needs. It is estimated that 3 out of 5 people will become caregivers at some stage throughout their life, with a large percentage of women (75%) being primary carers. Family or informal care has been the subject of extensive research in the past, demonstrating the physical and emotional health risks placed on caregivers. However, little is known about how women caregivers engage with healthcare services for their own health needs, a factor that could mediate or prevent these health outcomes. Arksey and O’Malley’s scoping review methodology was applied to identify relevant empirical, peer-reviewed studies across six databases: MEDLINE, PsycINFO, SocIndex, CINAHL, Web of Science and Sociological Abstracts. Searches were limited from January 2013 to May 2025. A total of 11,228 papers were screened, with 41 papers meeting the inclusion criteria for the review. Studies were primarily quantitative, with a focus on physical and mental health, and the comparison of caregiver to noncaregiver experiences. Three key categories/issues were identified in these studies: (1) a varying frequency of service use (higher, lower and no difference when compared with noncaregivers), (2) key engagement factors (with a focus on individual versus contextual factors), and (3) encounters with health professionals. Findings demonstrate that specific caregiving roles and healthcare system factors influence the way in which carers engage with healthcare services for themselves and have the potential to inform overall health outcomes through a lack of timely treatment or an increased likelihood of requiring healthcare. With women comprising the majority of caregivers, they face a heightened risk of exposure to these challenges, yet existing research overlooks their specific needs and experiences. Opportunities for new and innovative directions in research exist to address ongoing gaps and for the development of meaningful policy and intervention to support women caregivers more effectively.