Report Ranks California 17th for Women’s Health, Well-Being
A new report from the Institute for Women's Policy Research ranks California and other states on women's health, reproductive rights and other metrics, the Washington Business Journal reports (Rodriguez, Washington Business Journal, 6/26).
Details of Report
The IWPR report reviewed the status of women in each state based on measures, such as:
- Employment;
- Health;
- Poverty; and
- Reproductive rights (Campbell, Stamford Advocate, 6/29).
Minnesota, which received an "A-" grade overall, was named the best state for women's health and wellness. Mississippi ranked last (Seegert, "Covering Health," Association of Health Care Journalists, 6/26).
California Findings
California ranked 17th overall -- up from 29th in last year's report -- with a "C+" composite score for women's health.
According to the report, California was one of 10 states and Washington, D.C., to improve its composite score. The state saw the second-largest gain at 7.1%.
Among women, California ranked:
- Fifth in the U.S. for lung cancer mortality;
- Ninth for suicide mortality;
- 22nd for heart disease mortality;
- 23rd for poor mental health;
- 25th for breast cancer mortality;
- 26th for chlamydia incidence;
- 26th for AIDS incidence;
- 28th for limited activities; and
- 33rd for diabetes incidence (IWPR health and well-being findings, 2015).