Women's Health: Illness and Prevention

A previous version of this article first published as Women's Health: Survey Highlights Illnesses, Care and Prevention onTechnorati.


The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation recently published their Women's Health Care Chartbook--Key Findings from the Women's Health Survey.  This report provides a snap shot of women's health in the U.S.  Chapters in the Chartbook cover a Profile of Women's Health, Health Coverage, Delivery System, Prevention and Screening, Access and Affordability and Work, Family and Caregiving.

Here are some of the highlights from the report:

The most common chronic health conditions reported by women in the survey include: arthritis 22%, hypertension 22%, high cholesterol 20%, obesity 16%, asthma/other respiratory disorder 15%, thyroid disorders 11%, diabetes 9%, and heart disease 5%.

Depression and anxiety problems are common.  Twenty six percent of women in the survey report being diagnosed with depression or anxiety in the past five years by a physician.  Depression and anxiety diagnosis is highest in women between 45 and 64, white women and women at less than 200% of the poverty income level. 

The leading causes of self-reported stress by women include: financial concerns 26%, job/career 23%, health problems of family member 16% and managing own health needs 13%.

Rates of going without health insurance for at least the past four years rose to 27% of all women in 2008 compared to 20% in 2004.

Use of mental health care in the last year was endorsed by 12% of all women in the survey.  This rate increased to 21% in those who reported their health status as fair or poor.

Seventy five percent of women reported receiving a mammogram in the past two years.   Pap smear, blood pressure screening and blood cholesterol screening were also reported by a majority of women.  However, only 40% of women over age 50 reported receiving colon cancer screening in the last two years.

A recently published CDC survey of preventive health screening confirms low rates for colon cancer screening in women.  The chart shows the percentage of women between 50 and 75 who were screened for colon cancer by one of three criteria: 

• Fecal occult blood test in last year or
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy in last 5 years or
• Colonoscopy in last 10 years

This lack of screening shows significant geographic variability.  The chart shows the highest rates for colon cancer screening are in the northeast with the lowest rates in the south and western U.S.

Percent of U.S. Women 50 to 75 Screened for Colon Cancer

Women commonly reported delaying or going without care due to a variety of reasons.  The most commonly reported reasons for delaying or going without care were: couldn't find the time 23%, couldn't take time off work 18%, no insurance 15%, child care problems 13%, and no doctor 13%.

A significant number of women (19%) spend 40 or more hours per week providing care for a sick or disabled family member.  Thirty two percent of women report they feel a lot of stress from their caregiving responsibilities.

This report is a great source of information about the most recent data on women's health and health care needs.  The complete report can be accessed at: http://www.kff.org/womenshealth/upload/8164.pdf

Henley SJ, King JB, German RR, Richardson LC, Plescia M, & Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2010). Surveillance of screening-detected cancers (colon and rectum, breast, and cervix) - United States, 2004-2006. MMWR. Surveillance summaries : Morbidity and mortality weekly report. Surveillance summaries / CDC, 59 (9), 1-25 PMID: 21102407