New Report Highlights New Level of Detail in Wide Variations of Women and Children’s Health Across the Country
September 28 2016 - 8:30AM
Business Wire
- State’s overall ranking may mask
wide variations in health of women, children and infants
- Majority of U.S. children – nine out
of 10 babies and eight out of 10 children – receiving recommended
well-visits with health care provider
- Report highlights role of home and
community environment in a child’s health
Notable differences in the health of women and children exist
across – and often even within – states according to some of the
key findings of United Health Foundation’s 2016 America’s Health
Rankings® Health of Women and Children Report. The new report
includes an in-depth look at more than 60 measures of health and
well-being, selected by a steering group of women’s and children’s
health experts.
The Health of Women and Children is Inconsistent Across – and
Often Within – States
States currently ranked the healthiest overall for women’s and
children’s health are generally in the Northeast, while states
experiencing the greatest challenges are generally in the South.
Specifically, the report finds:
- For women, Massachusetts, Minnesota and
Vermont fare best; Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas have the
greatest opportunity for improvement.
- On infant health, New Hampshire, Utah
and Vermont are strongest; Mississippi, Arkansas and Georgia face
the greatest challenges.
- When it comes to the health of
children, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire rank at the
top; Mississippi, Arizona and Nevada have more work to do.
The report highlights that a high or low ranking for one segment
of the population does not mean that other segments will be
similarly ranked. In fact, it finds that some states rank high for
the health of infants relative to other states, while their ranks
for women and children may be lower, or vice versa. For
example:
- Alaska, Arizona and Idaho score above
average for the health of infants, but rank below average for the
health of women and children.
- Child health ranks below average in
Montana and Oregon, but these two states perform better than the
national average when it comes to the health of women and
infants.
Majority of U.S. Children are Receiving Key Recommended
Clinical Preventive Services
The report highlights national successes in children’s health
such as use of preventive services including:
- A majority of children, nine out of 10
babies and eight out of 10 children, are receiving their
recommended baby and adolescent well-visits with a health care
provider;
- Within the recommended series of early
childhood vaccines, more than 90 percent of children are receiving
vaccinations for polio (93 percent), measles, mumps and rubella
(MMR) (92 percent), Hepatitis B (92 percent) and chicken pox (91
percent).
A Child’s Home and Community Environment Can Have a
Long-Lasting Impact on His or Her Health
The report highlights the impact of home and community
environment on a child’s health, and illustrates the importance of
more integrated approaches to children’s health.
Previous research has shown that children experiencing a higher
number of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)* in their home
environment are more likely to develop chronic health conditions
and engage in unhealthy behaviors, while supportive neighborhoods
can promote long-lasting positive health outcomes and contribute to
the social and emotional health of a child. Specifically, the
report finds:
- Nearly one in four children (16.4
million) have faced multiple adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
before reaching their 18th birthday;
- Three-quarters of children live in a
supportive neighborhood where people look out for each other’s
well-being, which positively contributes to a child’s health.
“This report reinforces the need to move toward a holistic,
integrated approach to help improve overall health outcomes,
especially for women and children,” said Deneen Vojta, M.D., a
pediatrician and senior adviser to United Health Foundation, and
Executive Vice President, Enterprise Research and Development,
UnitedHealth Group. “We need to work together – across states,
communities and the public health sector – to find ways to create
supportive environments and encourage wellness and improve health
among women, infants and children.”
To read the report and other materials, visit America’s Health
Rankings’ new website, which offers enhanced interactive visual
illustrations: http://www.americashealthrankings.org/
About United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings
and Health of Women and Children Report
America’s Health Rankings Health of Women and Children Report
includes more than 60 measures of health and well-being, all
selected by a steering group of experts in the field of women’s and
children’s health. The report shines light on the strengths and
challenges faced by the nation and offers a roadmap for community
leaders, public health officials, policymakers, and the media to
improve the health of women and children within their states.
United Health Foundation also produces the annual America’s
Health Rankings Annual Report and has recently expanded its
reporting series to include a number of spotlight reports focused
on important markers of the nation’s health, including prevention
and the impacts of unhealthy behaviors. For more information, visit
www.americashealthrankings.org.
About United Health Foundation
Through collaboration with community partners, grants and
outreach efforts, United Health Foundation works to improve our
health system, build a diverse and dynamic health workforce and
enhance the well-being of local communities. United Health
Foundation was established by UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) in
1999 as a not-for-profit, private foundation dedicated to improving
health and health care. To date, United Health Foundation has
committed nearly $315 million to programs and communities around
the world. We invite you to learn more
at www.unitedhealthfoundation.org.
* Indicator that a child has experienced the following:
socioeconomic hardship, divorce/parental separation, lived with
someone who had an alcohol or drug problem, victim or witness of
neighborhood violence, lived with someone who was mentally ill or
suicidal, domestic violence witness, parent served time in jail,
treated or judged unfairly due to race/ethnicity, or death of
parent.
** Percentage of children aged 0 to 17 whose parents
report their child is "usually" or "always" safe in their community
and neighborhood and who "strongly agree" or "somewhat agree" with
at least three of the following: In my neighborhood people help
each other out, we watch out for each other's children, there are
people I can count on in this neighborhood, there are trusted
adults nearby to help my child if they got hurt or scared while
playing outside.
Twitter: @AHR_RankingsFacebook:
www.facebook.com/AmericasHealthRankingsWebsite:
www.americashealthrankings.org
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United Health FoundationDanielle Varallo,
202-654-8847danielle_varallo@uhg.com
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