Health Needs of Women in the United States - Essay Example

Health needs of women in the United s Kaylor, Polivka, Chaudry, Salsberry and Wee ed the article, ‘Dental insurance and dental service useby U.S. women of childbearing age,’ that the Public Health Journal published on May 1, 2011. The study aimed at investigating factors to women’s oral health. This identifies diversified audience base such as the vulnerable women for who the finding may enlighten into adopting healthier oral health. Public health policy makers as well as general nurses and public health nurses are other classes of audience because the research objective relates to their responsibilities towards a healthy society.

Background information into the study suggests that poor oral health affects a woman’s health as well as health of the woman’s child. Focusing on factors to oral health among United States’ women of childbearing age, the study used a survey design to collect and analyze secondary data on factors to dental insurance and dental care. Results from a sample of 1071 women revealed that a significant percentage of the women, 40 percent, lack dental insurance cover. Major factors to lack of dental cover were low-level education, low income, and poor dental health.

The women without dental cover were also less likely to seek dental care than those with cover. These mean that nurses who deal with population segment that is vulnerable to poor dental health should create awareness among the women on oral health and the need to dental insurance cover. The population segment consists of women with lower level education and low-income women. Policies such as mandatory or subsidized dental insurance cover should also be put in place to promote dental health among the vunerable women (Kaylor, et. al., 2011).

Reference Kaylor, M., Polivka, B., Chaudry, R., Salsberry, P. and Wee, A. (2011). Dental insurance and dental service use by U.S. women of childbearing age. Public Health Nursing 28(3), 213-222.