THE SOCIAL CONTEXT OF WOMEN'S HEALTH

A woman's health reflects both her individual biology and her socio-cultural, economic and physical environment. These factors affect both the length and quality of her life. For example, the average life expectancy of a woman varies greatly according to her race. In 1997, the life expectancy of white women was 5 years longer than that of African-Indian women (8o years versus 75 years). Women who live in poverty or have less than a high school education have a shorter life expectancy; higher rates of illness, injury, disability and death; and more limited access to high-quality health care services.