Healthy People 2010 – Women's and Men's Health: A Comparison of Select Indicators

Conclusions

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As noted in this report, progress toward 18 Healthy People 2010 objectives representing leading indicators of women's health has been mixed. Nine objectives moved toward the Healthy People 2010 targets, two moved away, and seven showed little or no change. Differences between females and males continued to persist across all pertinent topics. Similarly, disparities within and between genders were found by race and ethnicity, age, socioeconomic status (that is, education and income), and urban/rural location. Such disparities were generally consistent with total population group findings.

Progress has been attributed to various programs and actions, as reported in the Healthy People 2010 Midcourse Review.³ For example, comprehensive tobacco control programs, combined with educational efforts, have contributed to the decrease in adult smoking rates.³ Among the factors associated with the increase in influenza vaccination rates is the doubling of reimbursement by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.³ For the decrease in physical assaults by intimate partners, a number of initiatives are credited, including more domestic violence services offered by State, local, and private entities.³

This report presents interim data on progress toward 18 Healthy People 2010 objectives. Publication of the Healthy People 2010 Final Review is anticipated in 2011. The Final Review will include final tracking data for all Healthy People 2010 objectives. It is hoped that the progress described in the present report will continue, and the final data will reflect further improvements.

Healthy People 2010 is part of an ongoing process to set and monitor national health objectives to meet a broad range of health needs, encourage collaborations across sectors, guide individuals toward making informed health decisions, and measure the impact of prevention efforts. Work on Healthy People 2020 is under way. Specific objectives, accompanied by strategies for achieving them, will be launched in 2010. Public comment has been invited throughout the process at www.healthypeople.gov/HP2020/Comments/default.asp.

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Content last updated July 1, 2009.

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