Health Matters for Women

November 2018

New from CDC

Unequal Declines in Absolute and Relative Disparities in HIV Diagnoses among Black Women, United States, 2008 to 2016

The purpose of this study was to assess changes in disparities of HIV diagnosis rates among Black women aged 18 years or older living in the United States. Differences in disparities in HIV diagnoses exist between black women. Accounting for the heterogeneity of the Black women’s population is crucial in measuring and monitoring progress toward eliminating health disparities among Black women.

Monitoring Disparities in Prevention and Treatment of HIV, Viral Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and Tuberculosis

This special issue of the American Journal of Public Health, sponsored by CDC’s National Center of HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention presents emerging and best-available methods, metrics, and indicators for monitoring health disparities and preventing HIV, viral hepatitis, STDs, and TB.

Newest Prediabetes Awareness Campaign by Nation’s Medical Authorities Spreads the Word: 1 in 3 Americans Has Prediabetes, Learn Your Risk

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Medical Association, and the Ad Council continues to fight against type 2 diabetes. “Do I Have Prediabetes” is a successful initiative that has already helped more than two million Americans learn their risk of developing type 2 diabetes, this campaign is back with motivational messages that underscore how common prediabetes is among American adults. Men and women with prediabetes can cut their risk when they participate in a CDC-recognized National Diabetes Prevention Program, scientifically proven programs to help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes During Pregnancy: What is CDC Doing?

CDC’s Division of Reproductive Health funded researchers to study the accuracy of screening for diabetes during the hospital stay after delivery compared with screening at 6 weeks postpartum. Recent studies have found that type 2 diabetes screening during delivery hospitalization may be a practical alternative to screening later in the postpartum period.

Lung Cancer Is the Biggest Cancer Killer in Both Men and Women

More people in the United States die from lung cancer than any other type of cancer. Listen to Jackie Archer, a lung cancer survivor, shares her story about diagnosis, treatment, and community support.

November is National Diabetes Month

In the United States, approximately 30 million persons are living with diabetes and 84 million with prediabetes. Women who have had gestational diabetes are at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed through a structured lifestyle change program that promotes weight loss, healthy eating, and increased physical activity. A report on changes in gestational diabetes in the United States is included in MMWR.

November is National Prematurity Awareness Month

In 2017, about 1 in 10 babies was born too early in the United States. Learn about the problem, risk factors, and what we can do to reduce premature birth.

Mission Possible: Reducing Disparities in Preterm Births in the United States

In the latest Conversations in Equity blog, RADM Wanda Barfield, MD, MPH, FAAP shares her own experience with preterm birth in honor of National Prematurity Awareness Month. Read the blog for her story and more information about what CDC’s Division of Reproductive Health is doing to reduce preterm birth rates.

Women Are Having Fewer Children, Waiting Longer To Have First Ones

This report describes trends and differences in total fertility rates and mean maternal age at first birth overall, and by race, between rural and small or medium metro, and rural and large metro counties, from 2007 through 2017.

Suicide Increasing Among American Workers

Women in 2015, careers in arts, design, entertainment, sports and media had the highest suicide rates, with 15.6 suicides per 100,000 working people. The education, training and library field, which includes teachers, professors, and archivists, had the lowest suicide rates for women.