The Office of Women s Health Initiatives is eager to receive your comments about this data book - your suggestions for additions or corrections, as well as your impressions about the value of this manual to policy makers, the medical community, and the general public. The mission of the Office of Women s Health Initiatives is to improve the health status of women in Ohio through advocacy, policy development, education and research. The data in this book suggest great opportunities to improve the health and quality of life for women in Ohio through disease prevention, health promotion, and increased access to health services. Behavioral and lifestyle factors are the primary factors associated with the leading causes of morbidity and mortality for Ohio women. Violence plays an increasing role in premature death for women under age 45, especially minority women.
Tobacco smoking is a significant public health problem for Ohio women.
More Ohio women die annually from lung cancer than breast cancer. Most Ohio women begin smoking while they are still in high school. Ohio women are less likely to have health insurance through their employer than men, and are more likely to have health insurance through a spouse. Single women are at greatest risk for being uninsured. Low birthweight continues to be a problem for babies born to Ohio women.