Women and health care.

Women have specific health risks not only because of their race, ethnicity, and lifestyle, but they also have unique risks related to gender. Women in industrialized countries such as the United States have multiple indicators of morbidity but lower rates of mortality than men. Among women from different racial and ethnic groups, there are clear differences in morbidity and mortality. Insight into the differences and challenges that confront women are important in the delivery of optimal health care.