Women in the United States experience health disparities throughout their lifespans as a result of historic health inequities for women in the health care system.

Sixteen percent of women report fair or poor health status, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). These percentages are even higher among women of color.

Native American Women

Hispanic Women

Black Women

White Women

Asian American Women

A message from Kathryn G. Schubert

SWHR President and CEO

ABOUT THE INITIATIVE

The Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR)’s Women’s Health Equity Initiative highlights data on women’s health in the United States and aims to provide solutions to improve health equity across diseases, conditions, and life stages.

HEALTH EQUITY ROADMAP

This roadmap features U.S. data on the disproportionate impact of six diseases on women’s health based on race and ethnicity, geography, age, and role as a caregiver. SWHR plans to add additional disease states, life stages, and issues to this map in the future. Download the fact sheets for more information.

  • Alzheimer’s Disease

Approximately 5.8 million people in the United States have Alzheimer's disease — two-thirds of them are women.

  • Bone Health

Women account for 80% of the estimated 10 million Americans with osteoporosis and experience bone loss at an earlier age than men.

  • Maternal Health

Black women are three to four times more likely to die from childbirth than non-Hispanic white women.

  • Menopause

Thirty-four percent of women with menopause symptoms are not diagnosed and do not know they are in the menopause transition, while 20% of women go 12+ months before it is formally identified by their health care provider.

  • Lupus

Lupus is a chronic, life-altering disease that causes the body’s autoimmune system to attack its own tissues and organs. Currently, there is no cure for lupus.

  • Uterine Health

Uterine conditions greatly affect the health and quality of life of millions of women in America.

TESTIMONIALS

These videos feature caregivers, patients, and clinicians to call attention to the health disparities women experience while managing treatment for and facing the economic burden of Alzheimer’s disease, bone health, maternal health, menopause, and lupus.

Videos on other diseases, conditions, and life stages will be added as we continue to expand upon this work.

Caregiver
Alzheimer's Disease
Clinician
Maternal Health
Caregiver
Lupus
Patient
Bone Health
Patient
Menopause
Uterine Health
Uterine Health

SWHR will cover other issues in the future and continues to seek sponsors and health care stakeholders interested in supporting SWHR’s health equity work. Please reach out to the Development Team at development@swhr.org to learn more about partnering.