United States: Study indicates national women's health crisis

Off Our Backs, Jan/Feb 2002 by Elliot, Farar, Douglas, Carol Anne, Kulla, Bridget, Maclay, Amanda, Et al

A recent report finds weaknesses in nearly all aspects of women's health, both in the United States as a whole and in every individual state.

"Making the Grade on Women's Health," a study released for the second year by the National Women's Law Center, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Oregon Health and Science University, finds health coverage lacking, obesity and smoking on the rise, and the outlook for the future grim.

The nation received an unsatisfactory rating, as did every state, with the country's southern region garnering the lowest ratings. Imbalances still exist among racial and ethnic groups as well. Marcia Greenberger, an author of the report, cited the Bush administration as part of the problem: "We haven't seen the kind of leadership to provide the health care support that is so essential to the country."

Some critics claim that the standards used in the study are unrealistically high. For instance, to earn a satisfactory rating in the category of health insurance, a state must demonstrate coverage for 100% of its women.

The nation showed improvement in some areas, as more women reported getting pap smears, mammograms, and colorectal cancer screenings.

-info from womensenews.cor