HEALTH STATUS

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Self-Reported Health Status

In 2000, more than two-thirds of women and men reported being in excellent or very good health. For both men and women, the percent reporting their health as excellent or very good declined significantly with age. While 67 percent of females between the ages of 18 and 64 reported their health as excellent or very good, only 36.9 percent of females aged 65 and over did so.

While more than half of Black and Hispanic women reported being in excellent or very good health, a greater proportion (67 percent) of White females rated their health as excellent or very good. Black women were most likely to report being in fair or poor health. Women of other races were the most likely to report being in excellent or very good health (66 percent) and the least likely to report being in fair or poor health (9.6 percent).

Educational levels are also associated with health status. In 2000, 67 percent of women with 12 or more years of education perceived their health status to be excellent or very good compared to 40 percent of women with less than 12 years of education.


In the 18-64 year-old age group, 67.2% of females and 69.9% of males rated their health status as "excellent"; 23.9% of females and 22.4% of males rated their own health as "good", and 8.9% of females and 7.8% of males rated their health as "fair or poor." In the 65+ age group, 36.9% of females and 38.6% of males rated their own health as "excellent", 35.9 % of females and 34.6% of males rated their own health as "good", and 27.1% of females and 26.8% of males reported their health as "fair or poor."

 

In 2000, of white non-Hispanic women, 63.9% rated their own health as "excellent or very good," 25% ratedvtheir own health as "good, " and 11.2% rated it as "fair/poor." Of Black non- Hispanic women, 52.4% rated their health as "excellent or very good," 30% rated it as "good, " and 17.6% rated it as "fair/poor." Of Hispanic women, 56.2% rated their health as "excellent or very good," 29.4% rated it as "good, " and 14.5% rated it as "fair/poor."

 

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