Introduction

The health of communities across the United States depends on the well-being of the country’s women and children. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2020 there were 58.4 million women of reproductive age (18-44) and 72.8 million children in the United States, representing nearly 40% of the total population.

To better understand the health of women, infants and children, America’s Health Rankings® continues to collaborate with an advisory group of experts to develop the America’s Health Rankings Health of Women and Children Report. Since the first edition in 2016, the report has provided a comprehensive look at the health of infants, children and women of reproductive age across the nation and on a state-by-state basis. This report examines their health with data collected from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

This year’s Health of Women and Children Report includes state rankings. Leaders and advocates can use this year’s report to tailor and target public health efforts in their states to address issues caused or exacerbated by the pandemic and, ultimately, build healthier communities. The 6th edition of the Health of Women and Children Report finds that:

Many children and women of reproductive age have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, more than 14.4 million

COVID-19 cases, representing 18.4% of all cases, have been reported among children as of August 25, 2022. There have been 1,430 deaths

from COVID-19 among children and 26,133

among women ages 18-49, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as of August 27, 2022.

While many people experience mild symptoms, some people are at particular risk for complications, including pregnant women. Research suggests that in 2020, pregnant women who contracted COVID-19 were at higher risk

of severe outcomes, including being admitted to an intensive care unit, requiring ventilation, and death. The risk of preterm birth

was also higher among pregnant women who had COVID-19 compared with those without COVID-19.

In addition, it is possible for individuals to experience long-term effects

from COVID-19 infection. Post-COVID conditions, also referred to as long COVID, cover a wide range of symptoms that may last or appear at least four weeks after the initial COVID-19 infection. Research indicates that women

are more likely to develop long COVID than men, and women with long COVID had higher odds of experiencing certain long COVID symptoms. While COVID infections tend to be milder in children, they are still at risk for developing long COVID

. One study found that the prevalence of long COVID

was 25% among children and adolescents. The most common long COVID symptoms for children and adolescents in this study were mood changes, fatigue, sleep disorders, headaches and respiratory symptoms.

Vaccinations are safe

and effective

for preventing severe illness and death from COVID-19. Receiving a vaccination during pregnancy

benefits the mother as well as the infant, whose risk of hospitalization from COVID-19 infection is significantly reduced. Despite common misconceptions, vaccinations are not associated with

poor pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm birth or small-for-gestational age at birth. Among children and teens, vaccination reduces the risk of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children,

a rare but serious condition linked to COVID-19. Vaccination may also reduce the risk

of developing long COVID.

Beyond the direct effects of COVID infection, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented unique challenges for women and children. As schools and businesses closed, households with children were left juggling work, child care and virtual schooling. The closing of schools and daycares disproportionately affected women

, who still perform the majority

of housework and child care. More than half of the 4.2 million

Americans who left the labor force in the first year of the pandemic were women. Because 2 out of 3

caregivers are women, the pandemic has added additional stress to many women’s lives; caregivers are at higher risk for depression, anxiety and poor physical health.

Children and teenagers have also experienced disruptions to their school and home lives during the pandemic. During the first half of 2021, the CDC conducted the Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey

to determine some of the effects of the pandemic on students in grades 9-12 across the U.S. Two-thirds of students reported

more difficulty completing their schoolwork during the pandemic. Almost 30% of students experienced a parent losing a job and more than 20% lost a job themselves. Nearly 1 in 4 students reported hunger. During the pandemic, less than half of high school students felt connected

to people at their school. Students who felt close to those at school had a lower prevalence of poor mental health both during the pandemic and in the last 30 days.

Certain racial and ethnic groups have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Hispanic women had higher rates

of COVID-19 infection during pregnancy, and non-Hispanic Black women experienced a disproportionately higher rate of death due to COVID-19. Higher rates of hospitalization

from COVID-19 have been observed among Hispanic and Black children compared with white children. Children at greater risk for COVID-19 infection, including racial and ethnic minority groups, also face more barriers

to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

The pandemic has had a disproportionate negative impact on the economic and mental well-being of minority groups as well. During the first year of the pandemic, Hispanic and Black women in particular faced a sharper decline

in employment than other women. In a survey of 9th-12th grade students

, parental job loss was higher among Asian, Hispanic and Latino students, and hunger was more prevalent among Black students. During the first half of 2021, the Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey

found that nearly 36% of students — largely Asian, Black and multiracial youth — reported experiencing racism

during the pandemic. Students who experienced racism also reported a higher prevalence

of poor mental health; not feeling close to people at school; and difficulties with concentration, memory or decision-making.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the health and well-being of America’s women and children, and the full extent and impact of the pandemic is still unknown. As we continue to navigate the pandemic and its impact, we must leverage the power of public health data to address disparities that affect women and children across the nation. We urge leaders to use the report’s data to inform solutions for narrowing these gaps and ensuring that all children, families and communities can thrive.

The purpose of America’s Health Rankings is to inform; drive action to build healthier communities; and offer credible and comprehensive data for improving health and the elements that determine health at the state and national levels. Using 36 data sources, including the CDC’s Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau’s National Survey of Children’s Health, the Health of Women and Children Report consists of:

In summary, the Health of Women and Children Report aims to improve population health of women and children by:

America’s Health Rankings is built upon the World Health Organization

definition of health: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”