GUEST COLUMN: Women’s health care needs to be a statewide priority

Susan R. Madsen 

Our health is one of the most important elements of a quality life. It shapes our families, our work and our future. Yet, a new Gallup and West Health report has delivered a troubling reality: Utah ranks dead last in the nation for health care access, leaving many without the resources they desperately need.

Forbes Advisor used 14 key health metrics across all 50 states, which included the relative numbers of hospital beds, doctors, nurses, community health centers and percentage of residents who lack health insurance.

The 10 states that are deemed to have the least accessible health care in the U.S. are 1. Utah, 2. Nevada, 3. Texas, 4. Arizona, 5. Georgia, 6. South Carolina, 7. Indiana, 8. Wyoming, 9. Idaho and 10. North Carolina,

The report noted that Utah is at the top of the list because of its lack of resources, which includes qualified health care professionals and hospital beds. In fact, Utah has the third-lowest number of primary care physicians per 10,000 residents and hospital beds per 1,000 residents, and fourth-lowest number of nurse practitioners per 10,000 residents.

However, even more disheartening, according to this report, is that Utah employers contribute one of the lowest percentages toward employee health insurance premiums, adding financial strain to many Utahns. These aren’t just statistics; it’s a reality for countless Utahns struggling to get the care they need.

It’s important to understand how health impacts the lives of Utahns, especially women. The Utah Women & Leadership Project at Utah State University has released 14 reports on various topics related to women’s health, the majority of which have been published within the past three years.

For example, Utah remains one of the lowest-ranking states for mammography screenings. Only 63 percent of Utah women, ages 40 and over, have annual screenings, ranking the state one of the three worst in the nation. Some of the reasons women do not get screened include lack of insurance coverage, low accessibility of services, lack of time, lack of childcare and fear of diagnosis. Furthermore, Utah ranks 49th (out of 51) for women’s preventive health care.

In addition, Utah has the highest birth rates in the U.S. and data show one in eight women experience postpartum depression in Utah and one in four women with a history of anxiety or depression before pregnancy experience symptoms of postpartum depression.

Other data are summarized in “The Current Status of Utah Women & Girls: A Research Synopsis,” available through the Utah Women & Leadership Project at Utah State University.

What can Utahns do? Although strategic conversations are already being held, it is important that these be elevated and supported by more public and private partners. We need more resources, which include more beds, primary care physicians, and nurse practitioners (individuals of different genders and race/ethnicity communities). These resources are important for men, women, and children.

Other suggestions particularly useful for women include increased digital options such as telehealth to provide greater access to primary care and offering these services in languages other than English. In addition, as women in our state continue to have babies at higher rates and at younger ages than their national counterparts, it is increasingly important to understand how perinatal mood and anxiety disorders may impact Utah families.

And finally, additional health issues such as substance use, disordered eating or suicidal behaviors will demand additional mental health resources to respond to the unique needs of those individuals.

The statewide movement, A Bolder Way Forward, has an area of focus called “Health Across the Lifespan,” which is working to optimize the health and well-being of women and girls in Utah. This work is being led by Intermountain Health and the University of Utah Health System, with other partners being invited into this work. For example, Regence BlueCross BlueShields is also a key partner in this work. They are working in the following areas: access, adolescent health, mental health/well-being, older adult/end of life, perimenopause/middle age, prevention, reproductive health and trauma informed care.

Supporting women’s health isn’t just about women themselves — it’s about building stronger families, thriving communities and a future where every generation has the chance to flourish.

When we prioritize the well-being of women, we’re nurturing the very heart of society. When we choose to invest in women’s health, we’re choosing to uplift everyone.

Susan R. Madsen is the inaugural Karen Haight Huntsman Endowed Professor of Leadership at Utah State University and founder and director of the Utah Women & Leadership Project.