| July 15, 2002 |
Contact:
HRSA Press Office
301-443-3376 |
New HRSA Article Examines Women's Progress
Toward Healthy People 2010 Targets
A new article examining Healthy People 2010 leading health indicators
and other federal data sources shows that women are more likely than
men to have health insurance coverage and an ongoing source of primary
care.
HRSA Office of Women’s Health Director Deborah R. Maiese is the author
of “Healthy People 2010 -- Leading Health Indicators for Women,” published
in the July/August 2002 issue of the journal, Women’s Health Issues
(and available on the Web at (http://www.hrsa.gov/WomensHealth/WH-HP2010-Jul2002.htm).
Maiese uses the national health promotion objectives found in Healthy
People 2010 to compare adolescent and adult males and females in
10 preventive areas. Released in 2000, Healthy People 2010
(www.health.gov/healthypeople)
provides 10-year targets for improving public health.
According to the article, women, overall, are closer to meeting the
2010 health targets than men. Women are:
- less likely to smoke or use illegal substances than men;
- less likely to engage in binge drinking (consuming five or more
drinks on one occasion in the past 30 days); and
- less likely to die from motor vehicle crashes and homicides.
The article also points out areas where women could improve their health
and their quality of life. Older women fall behind men in obtaining
vaccinations for influenza and pneumonia. Women are also less
likely to engage in regular physical activity (five days a week for
30 minutes a day) than men. Additionally, many women should take
steps to reduce obesity, as encouraged in the President’s Healthier
U.S. Initiative (http://www.healthierus.gov).
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