Even though minority women have many of the same health problems as white women, they are in poorer health. Minority women use fewer health services and suffer more from disease, disabilities, and early death. Many also face huge social, economic, and cultural barriers to having life-long good health. Also, because minority groups are diverse, even within each group, access to health care, health behaviors and health status can vary widely in these areas:

• The likelihood of premature death (mortality)
• Life expectancy
• The risk factors for developing major diseases