The National Women's Law Center has released its 2010 report on Women's Health. The Report assesses the state of women's health nationally and state by state. It also rates the effectiveness of state programs designed to improve the health of women.
The report says that no state got a "satisfactory" grade on these issues in 2010. Two received a grade of "satisfactory minus" (Massachusetts and Vermont) , 12 received a grade of "unsatisfactory", and 36 states received "failing grades". California received an unsatisfactory grade but scored better than all but 11 other states.
Nationally, the nation got a satisfactory grade on just three indicators: the percentage of women who were getting regular mammograms, the percentage who were visiting a dentist annually, and the percentage of women being screened for colorectal cancer.
Compared to the results in the 2007 report on women's health, the nation improved in one area (cholesterol screening), and received a lower grade in two areas (binge drinking among women and the rate of getting Pap smears to test for cervical cancer).
The nation and the states were evaluated on 4 key indicators:
- Percentage of women without health Insurance.
- Percentage of people in medically under served areas.
Percentage of women receiving pre-natal care during their first trimester of pregnancy.
- Percentage of women without an abortion provider in their county.
The report also evaluates then nation and state on preventive measures and screening. For example it examined the following factors:
- The percentage of women with no leisure time physical activity.
- The percentage of obese women.
- The percent of Women eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.
- The percent of women who smoke.
- The percent of women who engage in binge drinking.
- The percentage of women who visit a dentist at least once a year.
You can see how California rated on these issues, and get more information on the report, by clicking on the link at the end of this newsflash and then scrolling down to and clicking on the links found under National Women's Law Center Report on Women's Health.
Here is the link to get you started: http://www.calcomui.org/womensissues.htm