Women’s Health 2012: A Year in Review

In 2012, CDC made numerous contributions to better understand, address, improve, and promote the health, safety, and quality of life of women, at all stages of life.

A few of the contributions are:

• Racial Disparities in Breast Cancer Severity — United States, 2005–2009
  Black women have the highest death rates of all racial and ethnic groups and are 40% more likely to die of breast cancer than white women. The reasons for this difference result from many factors including having more aggressive cancers and fewer social and economic resources. To improve this disparity, black women need more timely follow-up and improved access to high-quality treatment.
• The Right To Know Campaign: Breast Cancer Screening
  CDC conducted a study to explore the barriers to breast cancer screening for women who have physical disabilities. As a result of this study, a family of health promotion materials (e.g., posters, MP3 files, low-tech fliers, print advertisements, and tip sheets) has been designed to increase awareness of breast cancer among women with physical disabilities and encourage these women to get screened.
• Disasters and Pregnant Women
  Research studies conducted after disasters in the United States have shown that pregnant women may have increased medical risks. Recently, CDC began to build capacity to respond to all types of events and track their effects on women and infants.
• Teen Pregnancy Prevention
  Health care providers play a critical role in further reducing teen pregnancy rates through the care provided to adolescent patients. Tools, resources, media, and messages are available to assist the health provider.
• Safety and Health among Hotel Cleaners [PDF - 984KB]
  CDC convened a number of partners to develop the National Services Agenda, which includes safety and health goals for the Ac­commodations Industry. Groups such as unions, worker organizations, government agencies, and hotel/motel associations can build partnerships to implement these goals and help ensure that hotels are safe for all employees.
• Breastfeeding Action Guides
  Health providers play a role to support patients’ intentions to breastfeed as well as health system changes to improve patient satisfaction and breastfeeding outcomes.  These action guides outline what doctors, nurses, and health care leaders can do to make it possible for mothers to breastfeed their babies.
• CDC Ad Campaign Reveals Harsh Reality of Smoking-Related Diseases
  A hard-hitting national ad campaign that depicts the harsh reality of illness and damage suffered as a result of smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke.
• African American Women Claiming their Power in Fight Against HIV [PDF - 656KB]
  Take Charge. Take the Test. messages remind women that they have the power to take charge of their health and protect themselves from HIV through testing, talking openly with their partners about HIV, and insisting on safe sex. Resources for Take Charge. Take the Test
• Nurses' Miscarriages Linked to Chemicals at Work
  A new NIOSH study finds a greater-than-expected risk of miscarriages among nurses, associated with occupational exposures to hazardous drugs.

More Information

• A Timeline of CDC/ATSDR Contributions to Women's Health
• CDC Women's Health
• Healthy Living Calendars