U.S. Women's Health Rated "Unsatisfactory"

A new state-by-state report card on women’s health indicates that most states have a ways to go to meet key health objectives set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“Making the Grade on Women’s Health” was released by the National Women’s Law Center in conjunction with Oregon Health & Science University.

From Reuters:

The groups looked at 27 measures of women’s health, ranging from the rates of routine screening tests for breast and colon cancer to obesity and access to health care. The benchmarks were based on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Healthy People 2010 initiative.

“Overall the nation’s grade was ‘unsatisfactory.’ Only three of the 27 benchmarks were met,” Dr. Michelle Berlin of the Oregon Health & Science University told a briefing.

The three exceptions were in the percentage of women 40 and older getting mammograms, regular dental care and colorectal cancer screening for women over 50.

According to the report, the best state for women’s health is Vermont. The worst state is Mississippi. Click here to view data from your state.