Virginia Survey Finds Access to, Affordability of Health Care and Insurance to Be Women’s Top Health Concern

A survey by the not-for-profit agency Women's Health Virginia found that access to and affordability of health care and health insurance is the top health concern for women in the state, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports. According to the organization, researchers surveyed 1,500 women across the state about their primary health concerns, where they get their health information, who they discuss health matters with and what they would like to change about their health in order to establish a "baseline for women's health concerns that had not been available before" in Virginia. "In a state where we know everything there is to know about oysters and trout, we know very little about half of the state's population," group Chair Judy Connally said. Women cited affordability of health care and health insurance as their biggest concern. Doctors, followed by pharmacists and hospitals, were cited as the "most trusted source" of health information, while grocery stores, clergy, fitness centers and the Internet were listed as the least trusted sources. Sixty-eight percent of women surveyed rated their health as "good, very good or excellent," although most women said they would like to lose weight and exercise more. "People would like to lose weight and exercise, but don't see it as a pressing health issue," Dr. Wendy Novicoff, an assistant professor of health evaluation sciences at the University of Virginia, said. According to Connally, the organization is seeking to expand on the initial survey with focus groups and discussion panels. "We hope to go out to health-care providers and share what we have found," she added. Study results are broken down by age, race, insurance status, location, education and marital status to facilitate tailoring programs to women's needs and desires. "Having an understanding of women's interests and way they want to receive information will enable us to provide information and education programs that meet their needs," Miriam Bender, Women's Health Virginia's executive director, said (Smith, Richmond Times-Dispatch, 10/30). For further information on state health policy in Virginia, visit State Health Facts Online.