Summary
This fact sheet provides an overview of selected health issues, including high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, overweight and obesity and cancer screening, among nonelderly women (ages 18–64) in California.
Findings: Many disparities in health and health care access exist among nonelderly women in California. Poor health among women with low incomes in the 18–64 age group is nearly double (32%) that of all women in this age range (18%); for women 45–64, high blood pressure is more prevalent in African American (59%) and AIAN (50%) women compared with Latina (34%), Asian or Pacific Islander (33%), or white (29%) women; smoking rates are higher among African American and American Indian or Alaska Native women; and lack of health insurance is associated with less preventive care, such as physician visits, mammograms, and Pap tests. Authors say the recently enacted health care reforms are an opportunity to reduce some of these disparities.
