The Geography of Women’s Health in the US, by Race/Ethnicity

• In Event: 30252 - Racialized Health Injustice

Abstract

Despite extensive research on racial health disparities, geographic factors influencing women’s health across U.S. states remain understudied. Using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (2023), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2023), and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (2023), this paper examines state-level variations in self-rated health, mortality rates, and life expectancy among different racial/ethnic groups. The findings show that state-specific factors, such as policies, healthcare infrastructure, and socioeconomic conditions, may yield distinct health advantages and disadvantages. Although Black and White women are often the focus, their health trends appear more similar to each other compared to Hispanic and Asian women (with better health outcomes) and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander and American Indian/Alaska Native women (with worse health outcomes). These results highlight the need to move beyond conventional Black-White comparisons and address wider inter- and intra-racial variations. Further research is also needed to better examine factors driving these geographic disparities in women’s health.

Authors

• Jolene Tan, Princeton University

• Beza Taddess, Princeton University

• Sanyu A. Mojola, Princeton University