Health Care Needs of Columbus Area Women: 1988

The greatest health care need for women in the Columbus area is diet and exercise (26% of women surveyed), according to the 1988 Needs Assessment and Survey of Columbus Area Women. Diet and exercise was reported as the greatest health care need by women of all ages except those women ages 65 years or older. Women over 65 reported specific medical conditions, (e.g., arthritis), and stress related illnesses, (e.g., ulcers and hypertension), as their greatest health care concerns, getting 30% and 20% respectively.

The survey also found a need for additional assistance in the areas of drug and alcohol treatment, health education and psychological counseling. Other findings of the survey included: 18% of women used Medicaid or Medicare, 14% used mental health counseling centers, 11% used community health centers, and 8% used disability services.

The needs assessment consisted of a survey in which 706 randomly selected women were asked to identify their greatest health care needs.

Health Care Needs of Columbus Area Women: 1988

Health
Need                18-30      31-41      42-64       65+      Totals
                     yrs        yrs        yrs        yrs

None                 22%        16%        24%        19%        20%
Diet & Exercise      31%        32%        23%        13%        26%
Barriers to Access    2%         5%         7%         4%         5%
Specific Conds.      11%        16%        18%        30%        17%
Stress Related &
  Psychological       9%        14%        16%        22%        15%
Female Disorder       6%         4%         1%         0%         3%
Other                18%        13%        12%        12%        13%

Source: 1988 Needs Assessment and Survey of Columbus Area Women: Beyond Ozzie and Harriet, the Columbus Women's Round Table

Filename: PS-024

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