Missouri ranks 42nd for women and children’s health; local doctor discuss trends seen in mid-Missouri
Euphenie Andre
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
In honor of International Women’s Month, ABC 17 News looked into women’s health trends in mid-Missouri.
Missouri ranks 42nd in the country for women and children’s health, according to America’s Health Rankings.
Dr. Elizabeth Wilson, an OB-GYN at Boone Health with 30 years of experience, said she has seen several changes in women’s health throughout her career. Wilson primarily works with patients typically ranging in age from their 30s to their 70s. As many women approach menopause, she said they often experience symptoms including brain fog, mood changes, fatigue and weight gain.
“People are always curious why they’re starting to gain weight when they didn’t gain before without making any changes, or they’re working harder and it’s not working like it used to,” Wilson said.
Dr. Wilson said metabolic health and the mitochondria are factors in the changes women often deal with.
“I think across medicine, we’re also recognizing that our mitochondria take care of ourselves. Our cells actually help prevent diseases all throughout our body,” Dr. Wilson said.
According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, 451.6 women per 100,000 in Missouri are diagnosed with invasive cancer in 2022. The report also breaks down rates by race, though it does not separate men and women: 478.3 per 100,000 for white residents, 459.9 for Black residents, 261.6 for Hispanic residents, 304.1 for Pacific Islanders, and 166.6 for Native American residents.
Wilson said one trend she has noticed is an increase in certain cancers among younger women.
“I do feel like we’re seeing more breast cancer in younger women,” Wilson said. “I feel like I hear more about colon cancer and lung cancer, and I feel like lung cancer is now in non-smokers.”
Research also shows health conditions can affect women differently across racial groups.
A 2017 study found higher rates of diabetes among Black women compared to white women. Researchers tracked participants for 30 years, collecting data on diabetes risk factors, including medical history, weight, lifestyle habits, and social factors like education, finances, and neighborhood conditions.
According to the DHSS, 10.1% of white women have reported being told by a doctor that they have diabetes. The percentages increases to 14.7% for Black women.
Wilson said research helps doctors remain aware of conditions that may affect patients differently.
“I don’t know if I can tell you that more of my black patients have pre-eclampsia than my white patients, but I do know to be more aware of it and look for it more closely,” Dr. Wilson said.
Dr. Wilson added that her OB patient population has decreased over the past five years, so she doesn’t have enough cases to draw firm conclusions, but it remains a trend that doctors are trained to watch closely.
Jackquline Pribble, a Columbia native, said the biggest difference in her health now compared to her 20s is how her bodies feel as she ages.
“More body aches. As you get older you get worn out,” she said.
Columbia resident Dr. Mary Dohrmann said she is purposeful in maintaining a good health by being intentional about lifestyle choices.
Wilson said there are several ways women can improve their overall health, including getting enough sleep, managing stress, maintaining a balanced diet and spending time outside.
“I’ve been interested in the whole circadian health.” Dr. Wilson said. “This idea that maybe one of the reasons we don’t sleep as we get older and older is just that we are not in sync with our environment. We’re inside under artificial lights all day long, we’re not touching the ground,”
Missouri also ranks 48th in the country for high-risk behaviors associated with HIV among women, according to the report. The report also shows mental distress among women ages 18 to 44 increased by 20% between 2019 and 2022, highlighting growing health concerns nationwide.
Dr. Wilson said patient education and involvement in health care is crucial.
“But because they have a lot of choices, they don’t have to all do all the same things to feel better. They more they educate themselves, the more they help me figure out where to go next with them,” she said. “I think the idea that a patient comes to the office and in 15 minutes she get an easy answer. I don’t think patients want that anymore,”