The Status of Women in North Carolina: Health & Wellness

Publication Date: June 2019

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The health and wellness of women in North Carolina has improved in some ways, yet not all women are equally benefitting from this progress. Wide disparities persist in disease and mortality rates and incidence of sexually transmitted infections by race and ethnicity, as well as by county. Ensuring that women can access the health care services they need - including for mental health and substance abuse - is vital to the health and well-being of women in North Carolina. Additionally, women's experiences of intimate partner violence show the detrimental impact this violence has on women in the state. The Status of Women in North Carolina: Health & Wellness is the second in a series of four publications that provide data and policy recommendations to improve North Carolina women's status in several key areas.

Key Findings:

  • North Carolina received a D grade on the Institute for Women's Policy Research's health and well-being index.
  • 35% of NC women have experienced intimate partner violence and/or sexual violence.
  • North Carolina has the 10th highest rate of reported STI diagnoses.
  • The teen pregnancy rate in North Carolina has decreased nearly 7% since 2014.
  • Mortality rates for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, breast cancer, uterine cancer, cervical cancer, and ovarian cancer have all decreased since 2012. 

Fact Sheets: 

The Status of Women: Health & Wellness in the Media:

Status of Women Report Highlights