Mississippi has dismal health and economic data
It's time again for the United Health Foundation's annual state health rankings report, and like last year, Mississippi comes in 50th.
Despite being a leader in telehealth and, historically, childhood vaccinations, Mississippi's high rate of childhood poverty, obesity and cigarette smoking contributes to it being the unhealthiest state in the country, according to the 2017 America's Health Rankings report.
Of the five categories examined in the report, Mississippi ranked overall 50th for one: clinical care. This has to do with Mississippi's doctor shortage, lack of mental health providers and preventable hospitalizations.
The state ranked 49th for behaviors and 44th for community and environment — both in which Louisiana came in last — 47th for policy and 48th for health outcomes.
Mississippi has the highest infant mortality rate of any state with 8.8 deaths per every 1,000 live births.
Of the 35 countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, only Turkey and Mexico have higher infant mortality rates than Mississippi.
Despite being a leader in telehealth and, historically, childhood vaccinations, Mississippi's high rate of childhood poverty, obesity and cigarette smoking contributes to it being the unhealthiest state in the country, according to the 2017 America's Health Rankings report.
Of the five categories examined in the report, Mississippi ranked overall 50th for one: clinical care. This has to do with Mississippi's doctor shortage, lack of mental health providers and preventable hospitalizations.
The state ranked 49th for behaviors and 44th for community and environment — both in which Louisiana came in last — 47th for policy and 48th for health outcomes.
Mississippi has the highest infant mortality rate of any state with 8.8 deaths per every 1,000 live births.
Of the 35 countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, only Turkey and Mexico have higher infant mortality rates than Mississippi.
The health ranking report said Mississippi's rate of babies born underweight — still the highest rate in the nation at 11.4 percent of births — decreased in the last year.
However, according to the 2017 March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card, Mississippi's rate of premature births is rising, 13.6 percent this year, up more than half a percent from 2016.
Many of Mississippi's health issues are tied to the state's high rate of poverty.
"Poverty influences a family's ability to meet children's basic needs and may limit access to health care, healthy foods, educational opportunities and physical activity choices. Children living in poverty are three times more likely to have unmet health needs than other children," the report reads.
Nearly one-third of Mississippi children, or more than 220,000 kids, live in poverty. This disproportionately affects African-American children in the state, almost half of whom live in poverty compared to 17 percent of white children.
In the report, Mississippi also came in last for cardiovascular deaths, including heart disease, stroke, hypertension, heart attack and heart failure — 352.5 of every 100,000 people.
"Cardiovascular disease is treatable and may be prevented by maintaining a healthy weight, eating healthy, participating in physical activity, limiting alcohol and avoiding tobacco. Cardiovascular disease is responsible for 17 percent of medical spending and 30 percent of Medicare spending," the report states.
In general, Mississippi had the highest rate of premature deaths, accounting for 10,950 years of life lost per 100,000 people. Mississippi also ties with Mexico for life expectancy at 75 years, the lowest in the country.
More than 12 percent of Mississippians lack health insurance, giving Mississippi the sixth worst uninsured rate in the nation.
Mississippi had the third-highest rate of diabetes and preventable hospitalizations and the fourth lowest number of primary care physicians, 105.9 per 100,000 people versus 149.7 nationally.
Mississippi also ranks 49th for its number of dentists, 42.2 versus the national average of 60.8 per 100,000 people.
"Nearly one-third of U.S. adults have untreated tooth decay, and despite steady growth in working dentists, many areas and populations do not have an adequate supply of dentists to meet current needs," the report states.
The state ranks 45th for its number of mental health providers, 132.6 per 100,000 people compared to a national average of 218.
Mississippi has often received praise for its high childhood immunization rate — 99.7 percent of kindergartners were fully vaccinated in 2014 — which can be partially attributed to the state's strict exemption laws. But in the 2017 health ranking report, Mississippi comes in last for adolescent vaccinations.
A statement from the Mississippi State Department of Health said the rate of Tdap vaccinations have improved since the state enacted a 7th grade entry requirement for the 2012-2013 school year.
"We actually received the CDC Healthy People 2020 Immunization Coverage Award for the most improved coverage among adolescents in September," said the statement from State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers. "While there have also been improvements in the rates for meningococcal vaccination and some improvements in use of the HPV vaccine, HPV has been underutilized in Mississippi for both males and females. For childhood vaccination rates it is important to note that the Mississippi vaccination rate for kindergarten entry is greater than 99% and has been among the highest in the U.S. for a number of years."
Mississippi ranks near the middle for its rate of early childhood vaccinations with just over 70 percent of children between 19 and 35 months receiving all recommended doses.
Mississippi came in second to last for both obesity and inactivity behind West Virginia and Arkansas, respectively. Almost 23 percent of Mississippians smoke cigarettes, "which can damage nearly every organ and potentially cause respiratory disease, heart disease, stroke, cancer, preterm birth, low birthweight and premature death."
The report shows Mississippi with a relatively low rate of drug deaths — ranked eighth in the country — but that could be more indicative of the state's reporting of those deaths. Law enforcement officers have told the Clarion Ledger that overdose deaths in the state are underreported, making the prevalence hard to measure.
Presumably because of its historically high childhood vaccination rate, Mississippi ranked first for having the lowest rate of pertussis (whooping cough) cases in the nation.
Mississippi ranked 15th for a relatively low rate of violent crimes, 281 offenses per 100,000 people.
The state had the highest rate of Salmonella cases in the country.
However, according to the 2017 March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card, Mississippi's rate of premature births is rising, 13.6 percent this year, up more than half a percent from 2016.
Many of Mississippi's health issues are tied to the state's high rate of poverty.
"Poverty influences a family's ability to meet children's basic needs and may limit access to health care, healthy foods, educational opportunities and physical activity choices. Children living in poverty are three times more likely to have unmet health needs than other children," the report reads.
Nearly one-third of Mississippi children, or more than 220,000 kids, live in poverty. This disproportionately affects African-American children in the state, almost half of whom live in poverty compared to 17 percent of white children.
In the report, Mississippi also came in last for cardiovascular deaths, including heart disease, stroke, hypertension, heart attack and heart failure — 352.5 of every 100,000 people.
"Cardiovascular disease is treatable and may be prevented by maintaining a healthy weight, eating healthy, participating in physical activity, limiting alcohol and avoiding tobacco. Cardiovascular disease is responsible for 17 percent of medical spending and 30 percent of Medicare spending," the report states.
In general, Mississippi had the highest rate of premature deaths, accounting for 10,950 years of life lost per 100,000 people. Mississippi also ties with Mexico for life expectancy at 75 years, the lowest in the country.
More than 12 percent of Mississippians lack health insurance, giving Mississippi the sixth worst uninsured rate in the nation.
Mississippi had the third-highest rate of diabetes and preventable hospitalizations and the fourth lowest number of primary care physicians, 105.9 per 100,000 people versus 149.7 nationally.
Mississippi also ranks 49th for its number of dentists, 42.2 versus the national average of 60.8 per 100,000 people.
"Nearly one-third of U.S. adults have untreated tooth decay, and despite steady growth in working dentists, many areas and populations do not have an adequate supply of dentists to meet current needs," the report states.
The state ranks 45th for its number of mental health providers, 132.6 per 100,000 people compared to a national average of 218.
Mississippi has often received praise for its high childhood immunization rate — 99.7 percent of kindergartners were fully vaccinated in 2014 — which can be partially attributed to the state's strict exemption laws. But in the 2017 health ranking report, Mississippi comes in last for adolescent vaccinations.
A statement from the Mississippi State Department of Health said the rate of Tdap vaccinations have improved since the state enacted a 7th grade entry requirement for the 2012-2013 school year.
"We actually received the CDC Healthy People 2020 Immunization Coverage Award for the most improved coverage among adolescents in September," said the statement from State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers. "While there have also been improvements in the rates for meningococcal vaccination and some improvements in use of the HPV vaccine, HPV has been underutilized in Mississippi for both males and females. For childhood vaccination rates it is important to note that the Mississippi vaccination rate for kindergarten entry is greater than 99% and has been among the highest in the U.S. for a number of years."
Mississippi ranks near the middle for its rate of early childhood vaccinations with just over 70 percent of children between 19 and 35 months receiving all recommended doses.
Mississippi came in second to last for both obesity and inactivity behind West Virginia and Arkansas, respectively. Almost 23 percent of Mississippians smoke cigarettes, "which can damage nearly every organ and potentially cause respiratory disease, heart disease, stroke, cancer, preterm birth, low birthweight and premature death."
The report shows Mississippi with a relatively low rate of drug deaths — ranked eighth in the country — but that could be more indicative of the state's reporting of those deaths. Law enforcement officers have told the Clarion Ledger that overdose deaths in the state are underreported, making the prevalence hard to measure.
Presumably because of its historically high childhood vaccination rate, Mississippi ranked first for having the lowest rate of pertussis (whooping cough) cases in the nation.
Mississippi ranked 15th for a relatively low rate of violent crimes, 281 offenses per 100,000 people.
The state had the highest rate of Salmonella cases in the country.
Labels: Clarion Ledger, diabetes, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
posted by Juliana L'Heureux | 5:02 AM
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