Health Status of Women in Region VII

摘要

Many indicators characterize womens health. While the region-wide averages are similar to the national averages for many indicators, there is substantial variability within the region. There are a number of areas of concern described below. While age-adjusted death rates for women in the region are similar to those found nationally for all causes as well as for all of the leading causes (except pneumonia/influenza 5 percent higher, and diabetes 8 percent lower), the age-adjusted mortality rates for breast cancer for women in Kansas and Missouri are 4 percent higher than the national average, and the colorectal cancer death rate in Iowa is 8 percent higher. However, the cervical cancer death rate in Nebraska is 32 percent lower. Also, the age-adjusted lung cancer death rate for women in Missouri is 12 percent higher than the national average. Nebraska has the lowest mortality rates in the region for many types of cancer as well as Alzheimers disease, heart disease, coronary heart disease, stroke, pneumonia and circulatory problems. Mortality from ovarian cancer for women in Iowa is 21 percent higher than the national average, and stroke and heart disease mortality for Missouri women are 6 and 11 percent above the national averages, respectively.