| INTRODUCTION |
6 |
At the start of the new millennium, women comprised more than half of the United States (U.S.) population. Indeed, women outnumber men in every age cohort over 25 years. Because women's life expectancy is now at a record 79.5 years, a majority of the rapidly growing aging population, particularly among those 85 years and older, are women. Ensuring good health in these years requires partnerships between women and their families, clinicians, employers, and community organizations.
The U.S. population is increasingly diverse. Over the decade 1990 to 2000, the proportion of the female population represented by White non-Hispanic women declined from 76 to 71.2 percent, while the Hispanic population grew from 8.6 to 11.6 percent and Asian/Pacific Islanders grew from 2.8 to 3.9 percent of U.S. females. Other racial and ethnic groups changed only slightly or remained constant.
Women's Health USA illustrates many advances in women's educational attainment and employment. The year 2000 census shows that men achieve higher levels of education than women. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that more than 56 percent of White, Black, and Hispanic women aged 16 and older are employed. Still, disparities exist in income between men and women, with women earning less than 75 cents for every dollar men earn.
Employment is a gateway for health insurance coverage. In 2000, nearly 87 percent of women had health insurance coverage and 13 percent of women lacked any health insurance coverage. Although women are more likely than men to have health insurance coverage, approximately one quarter of women aged 18-24 were without insurance in 2000.
Many women perform multiple roles— including caregiver to elderly relatives and young children—which affect their own health and economic stability. Data from The Commonwealth Fund's 1998 Survey of Women's Health indicate that 9 percent of women were caring for a sick or disabled relative, with 43 percent of these women providing more than 20 hours of care per week. Caregivers are more likely than non-caregivers to be in poor health.
Poverty continues to be a problem particularly affecting women in the U.S., with 11 percent of women living below the Federal poverty level. Single women with young children or who are elderly are most likely to live in poverty, with Black and Hispanic women of all ages having particularly high poverty rates.
Preventive health care can help to promote good health throughout a woman's life span, and women are more likely than men to seek preventive care. In 1996, nearly a quarter (24 percent) of women's ambulatory care visits were for preventive services such as mammograms, Pap smears, and immunizations. Impressive gains have been made in closing the gap in the use of preventive services among women from all racial and ethnic groups, with Black women now having higher rates of Pap smears and comparable rates of mammography screenings as White women. Dental care is also an important component of preventive services. In 2000, the majority of women had visited a dentist in the last year. However, a substantial minority, approximately one-third, had not visited a dentist for a year or more.
While these important preventive health services can detect diseases in early stages, the influence of medical care on women's health status is limited. Healthy behaviors, like regular physical activity and healthy nutritional choices, are critical to a long and healthy life. Women are less likely to engage in light or moderate leisure time physical activity than men. They are also less likely to consume recommended servings of fruit and vegetables. The percentage of women who smoke—a behavior associated with numerous chronic illnesses—has