America's Health Rankings
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ARKANSAS

Ranking:  Arkansas is 48th this year; it was 46th in 2006. 

Strengths: Strengths include a low prevalence of binge drinking at 12.4 percent of the population and a moderate high school graduation rate with 76.8 percent of incoming ninth graders who graduate within four years.

Challenges: Challenges include low per capita public health spending at $64 per person, a high percentage of children in poverty at 26.6 percent of persons under age 18, a high premature death rate with 9,763 years of potential life lost before age 75 per 100,000 population, a high rate of cancer deaths at 219.2 deaths per 100,000 population and low immunization coverage with 75.0 percent of children ages 19 to 35 months receiving complete immunizations.

Significant Changes:

↑ In the past year, the percentage of children in poverty increased from 18.6 percent to 26.6 percent of persons under age 18.

↓ In the past year, the prevalence of obesity declined from 28.0 percent to 26.9 percent of the population.

↑ In the past year, immunization coverage increased from 67.8 percent to 75.0 percent of children ages 19 to 35 months receiving complete immunizations.

↑ Since 1990, the rate of cancer deaths increased from 198.0 to 219.2 deaths per 100,000 population.

Health Disparities: In Arkansas, blacks experience 47 percent more premature death than whites.  Deaths from cancer are 25 percent more prevalent among blacks than whites.

State Health Department Web Site:     www.healthyarkansas.com/
 


 

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Arkansas                
  2007   2006   2000   1990  
DETERMINANTS - Personal Behaviors Value Rank Value Rank Value Rank Value Rank
Prevalence of Smoking (Percent of population) 23.7 44 23.5 41 27.2 46 31.3 35
Binge Drinking (Percent of population) 12.4 9 10.4* 5* 10.3* 7* --- ---
Prevalence of Obesity (Percent of population) 26.9↓ 36 28 44 22.7 47 13.2 41
High School Graduation (Percent of incoming ninth graders) 76.8 26 76.6 21 73.2* 22* 78.6* 18
DETERMINANTS - Community Environment                
Violent Crime (Offenses per 100,000 population) 552 40 529 39 490 29 413 23
Occupational Fatalities (Deaths per 100,000 workers) 10.1 45 11.1 44 7.2 37 14* 41
Infectious Disease (Cases per 100,000 population) 16.4 27 15.8 27 24.1 21 37 35
Children in Poverty (Percent of persons under age 18) 26.6↑ 49 18.6 35 18.5 35 25.2 43
DETERMINANTS - Public & Health Policies                
Lack of Health Insurance (Percent without health insurance) 18.9↑ 42 17.5 42 13.6 32 19.1 45
Per Capita Public Health Spending (Dollars per person) $64 49 $64 49 --- --- --- ---
Immunization Coverage (Percent of children ages 19 to 35 months) 75.0↑ 45 67.8 49 70.4 36 --- ---
DETERMINANTS - Clinical Care                
Adequacy of Prenatal Care (Percent of pregnant women) 69 41 69 41 69.7* 45* 61.4* 46*
Primary Care Physicians (Number per 100,000 population) 98.7 41 97.9 41 --- --- --- ---
Preventable Hospitalizations (Number per 1,000 Medicare enrollees) 92.7 43 92.3 43 --- --- --- ---
All Determinants -11.4 48 -9.4 44 -7.2 45 -5.4 44
                 
HEALTH OUTCOMES                
Poor Mental Health Days (Days in previous 30 days) 3.8 43 3.7 45 3.2 35 --- ---
Poor Physical Health Days (Days in previous 30 days) 4.1 45 4.1 44 4 48 --- ---
Infant Mortality (Deaths per 1,000 live births) 7.9 38 8.1 41 8.8 44 10.3 30
Cardiovascular Deaths (Deaths per 100,000 population) 367.6 44 376.4 44 391.2 45 425.3 38
Cancer Deaths (Deaths per 100,000 population) 219.2 46