Health
Many health indicators are improving for women in certain demographic and socio-economic groups, but not for low-income women, women with limited education and those with language and cultural differences and geographic barriers. Publicly funded insurance programs are not universally accepted by healthcare providers, and escalating costs put medical services and preventative care out of reach. A majority of local women struggle with unhealthy weight. Teenage pregnancy rates are still a concern. Although more pregnant women are receiving timely prenatal care, those with language and cultural differences often do not access care in the early stages of their pregnancy.
Snapshot of Key Data
Some good news
- Four out of five Monterey County females (86%) surveyed felt their overall health status was “good,” “very good,” or “excellent.”
- Monterey County has the 6th lowest rate among California’s 58 counties of any type of cancer among women and girls.
But health disparities persist
- 25% of women 18-64 have no health insurance coverage.
- Nearly 2/3 of all women and 71% of Latinas are overweight or obese.
- 82% of all women over age 50 get mammograms; the figure drops to 58% for low-income women.
- The percentage of all births that were to teen mothers (ages 15-19) is 11%. The highest percentages were in the North County (15%) and South County (14%) regions, and the lowest percentage was in the Monterey Peninsula area (5%).
What we heard
Health inequities in our community are perpetuated by
- The cost of health care and complexity of the health insurance system
- Inadequate health education in schools
- Ineligibility for public benefits and services
- Lack of English language proficiency and legal residency status
- High cost and low availability of healthy foods
- Lack of neighborhood-based and safe recreational facilities that encourage and enable residents to combat unhealthy weight.
Confirmed in Compliance with National