This book provides a collection of current and historical data on some of the most pressing health challenges facing women, their families, and their communities. It is intended to be a concise reference for policymakers and program managers at the federal, state, and local levels. The book brings together the latest available data from various agencies within the federal government. Three chapters focus on: (1) "Population Characteristics" (U.S. population, U.S. female population by race, women and education, women in health professions schools, women in the labor force, women and federal programs, participation, and women and poverty); (2) "Health Status" (health behaviors, health indicators, maternal health, and special populations); and (3) "Health Services Utilization" (usual source of care, health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid, preventive care, Title X family planning services, Title V abstinence education, programs, HIV testing, medication use, dental care, hospitalizations, mental health care utilization, home health and hospice care, and health care expenditures). (SM)