Utah lagging in areas of female health care

Utah ranks near the bottom of the country in several key areas of women's preventive health, including cholesterol screening, routine checkups, pap smears, mammography and occult blood screening, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A new Center of Excellence in Women's Health at the University of Utah is trying to change that. On Thursday, the Center is sponsoring the Women's Health Fair at University Health Care's Madsen Health Center, 555 S. Foothill Blvd., from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

The health fair is an opportunity to educate women on some key health issues and teach them simple steps they can take to improve their physical and mental health and prevent disease.

Attendees can visit a dozen rooms, each devoted to a different health issue, and obtain information on that topic, a list of resources for getting help or treatment in that area, and a screening tool to assist with knowing if one is at risk and should seek further advice. Each room will be staffed by a University Health Care physician, nutritionist, physical therapist, nurse or other specialist who can answer questions. The topics include bone health, mental health, heart health, reproductive endocrinology, contraception options, fitness and nutrition, massage therapy, aesthetics, hormone replacement therapy and adolescent health, including the HPV vaccine.

Representatives from the Utah Department of Health and the Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library will also be on hand. Attendees can learn about Utahhealthnet, an online resource for finding health information throughout the state.

The fair is free and open to women of all ages. For more information, call 801-585-9971.