Final answer:
In the US healthcare system, women are responsible for approximately 75% of the decisions related to the use of services. This is supported by a marketing survey where women made the majority of the purchasing decisions in 120 out of 200 households. The considerable influence of women in healthcare choices highlights their pivotal role in healthcare decision-making.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the US healthcare system, women are responsible for a significant portion of decisions related to the use of services. Drawing on the results of a survey conducted by a marketing company, which found that in 120 out of 200 households, women made the majority of the purchasing decisions, it can be inferred that women have a substantial influence on household healthcare choices.
Given this context, it is reasonable to presume that women's input on healthcare decisions is comparably high. While the survey specifically mentioned purchasing decisions, these often include healthcare services. Hence, among the given options, the most accurate answer would be that women are thought to be responsible for 75% of the decisions related to the use of services. This underscores the critical role women play in healthcare decision-making within families.
Furthermore, the representation of women in politics and other sectors remains crucial for addressing gender-specific health and policy issues. Although the participation of women in Congress has increased, it does not yet reflect the gender composition of the general population, with only 21.2% of the elected officials in the 115th Congress being women. Increased representation could lead to more equitable healthcare policies that factor in women’s perspectives.