Population - Women - Ages 18-44 in North Carolina

North Carolina

The demographics of a state influence the health needs and outcomes of its population. Understanding a state’s breakdown by age, income, education, race/ethnicity and other demographics can help state health officials and other policymakers identify and address health disparities. This understanding can also help determine priorities for health promotion and disease prevention.

The proportion of women of reproductive age (18-44 years) varies across states and impacts women’s health and birth outcomes. Access to contraceptive and family planning services is particularly important in areas where there is a high proportion of women of reproductive age and areas with limited access to health care, contraception or other women’s health services.

Women of reproductive age have unique health needs that evolve throughout the life course, including menstrual health, reproductive health and menopause. Pregnancy and the postpartum period can bring additional health challenges, including postpartum anxiety and depression, that may require screening and treatment. 

Maternal mortality rates in the United States are higher than in other comparable countries, although data from the National Vital Statistics System indicate a recent decrease. Contributing factors to the higher maternal mortality rate in the U.S. include inequities in health care access, women getting pregnant at older ages (35 years or older) and a rise in chronic health conditions among women of reproductive age. Women in the U.S. also have higher rates of chronic conditions and mental health needs than their international counterparts. Furthermore, there are severe and persistent health disparities by race and ethnicity in the United States — in 2024, Black women in the U.S. had a maternal mortality rate more than three times that of white women.

Other health concerns impacting women of reproductive age include: 

• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HPV, which is the cause of 9 out of every 10 cases of cervical cancer.
• Cervical cancer, which has the highest incidence among women ages 35-44.
• Breast cancer, which has an increased risk with age, but can affect anyone. 
• Intimate partner violence (IPV), which 43.5 million women experience over their lifetimes. IPV is associated with negative mental and physical health outcomes that may also affect the cardiac, digestive, reproductive, nervous and other systems in the long term. 
• Mental health conditions, many of which are more common among women than men and manifest differently. 
• Heavy menstrual bleeding, or menorrhagia, which affects one in every five women.
• Autoimmune disorders, which are twice as common among women as among men. These conditions can be triggered by periods of extensive stress, such as during pregnancy, or when experiencing significant hormonal changes. 

Gunja, Munira Z., Shanoor Seervai, Laurie C. Zephyrin, and Reginald D. Williams II. Health and Health Care for Women of Reproductive Age: How the United States Compares With Other High-Income Countries. Issue Brief. Commonwealth Fund, April 5, 2022. https://doi.org/10.26099/4pph-j894.

Hoyert, Donna L. Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2024. NCHS Health E-Stats. National Center for Health Statistics, March 4, 2026. https://doi.org/10.15620/cdc/174651.

Whei, See Jia, Sheryl Deva, Vetrivel Vijayakumar, Shayaan Sarfaraz Khan, Sarah Ahmed Awad, Ummul Asfeen, Romil Hemal Maniar, and Bibek Shrestha. “Management of Postpartum Anxiety and Depression: A Narrative Review.” Mental Health Science 3, no. 2 (June 2025): e70012. https://doi.org/10.1002/mhs2.70012.

Zapata, Lauren B., Karen Pazol, Kathryn M. Curtis, Debra J. Kane, Tara C. Jatlaoui, Suzanne G. Folger, Ekwutosi M. Okoroh, Shanna Cox, and Maura K. Whiteman. “Need for Contraceptive Services Among Women of Reproductive Age — 45 Jurisdictions, United States, 2017–2019.” MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 70, no. 25 (June 25, 2021): 910–15. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7025a2.