As many as one in five women in the United States
are living with disabilities. “Disability” is a broad term that
encompasses a sizable range of conditions and diseases. It refers
generally to a limitation in physical or mental function caused by
one or more health conditions. Depending on the definition used,
19.9 to 28.6 million U.S. women have disabilities – and the number
is growing.
Women are more frequently affected by many of the conditions that
cause disability, and well over half of all women older than 65 are
living with a disability. The most common are associated with
chronic conditions such as back disorders, arthritis, heart disease,
respiratory problems, and high blood pressure. Disabilities may also
result from injuries or birth defects.
Women who experience disability from a large and important group of
people who can benefit from public health efforts, according to
JoAnn Thierry of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s
disability and health team. In addition to the same health concerns
as nondisabled women, women with disabilities have conditions that
make them more vulnerable to a range of secondary conditions such as
pain, fatigue, osteoporosis, obesity, and depression.
CDC’s disability and health team has targeted women with
disabilities as a major area of emphasis and works to promote their
health and well-being through research, partnerships, and education.
CDC funds projects around the United States to improve surveillance
and promotes research that focuses on women with disabilities as a
special subpopulation.
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