America's Health Rankings
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TEXAS

Ranking:  Texas is 37th this year, unchanged from 2006.

Strengths: Strengths include few poor mental and physical health days per month at 3.0 days and 3.3 days, respectively, in the previous 30 days, a low prevalence of smoking at 17.9 percent of the population and a low rate of cancer deaths at 198.2 deaths per 100,000 population.

Challenges: Challenges include a high rate of uninsured population at 24.5 percent, a high percentage of children in poverty at 22.0 percent of persons under age 18, a high incidence of infectious disease at 26.3 cases per 100,000 population and limited access to primary care with 95.5 primary care physicians per 100,000 population.  Texas ranks lower for health determinants than for health outcomes, indicating that overall healthiness may decline over time.

Significant Changes:

↓ In the past year, the prevalence of smoking decreased from 20.0 to 17.9 percent of the population.

↓ Since 1990, the infant mortality rate decreased from 9.3 to 6.4 deaths per 1,000 live births.

↓ Since 1990, the incidence of infectious disease declined from 47.8 to 26.3 cases per 100,000 population.

↑ Since 1990, the prevalence of obesity increased from 12.3 percent to 26.1 percent of the population.

Health Disparities: In Texas, blacks experience 54 percent more premature death than whites.  Deaths from cancer in the state are 37 percent more prevalent among blacks than whites.  Residents in non-urban areas of the state experience 41 percent more premature death than residents in the fringe counties of large metropolitan areas.

State Health Department Web Site:     www.dshs.state.tx.us
           


 

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Texas                
  2007   2006   2000   1990  
DETERMINANTS - Personal Behaviors Value Rank Value Rank Value Rank Value Rank
Prevalence of Smoking (Percent of population) 17.9↓ 9 20 18 22.4 20 30.6 29
Binge Drinking (Percent of population) 14.6 21 14.3* 24* 17.3* 35* --- ---
Prevalence of Obesity (Percent of population) 26.1↓ 32 27 40 21.6 41 12.3 33
High School Graduation (Percent of incoming ninth graders) 76.7 27 75.5 29 61* 40* 65.9* 46
DETERMINANTS - Community Environment                
Violent Crime (Offenses per 100,000 population) 516 36 528 38 565 33 632 41
Occupational Fatalities (Deaths per 100,000 workers) 6.2 27 5.8 24 5.3 19 13.6* 39
Infectious Disease (Cases per 100,000 population) 26.3 43 25.8 42 51.8 47 47.8 41
Children in Poverty (Percent of persons under age 18) 22 45 22 46 22.1 45 22.6 39
DETERMINANTS - Public & Health Policies                
Lack of Health Insurance (Percent without health insurance) 24.5↑ 50 23.6 50 22.1 49 23.7 48
Per Capita Public Health Spending (Dollars per person) $179 15 $179 15 --- --- --- ---
Immunization Coverage (Percent of children ages 19 to 35 months) 76.7↓ 41 78.4 36 64.8 49 --- ---
DETERMINANTS - Clinical Care                
Adequacy of Prenatal Care (Percent of pregnant women) 71.6 34 71.6 34 71.8* 39* 58.9* 48*
Primary Care Physicians (Number per 100,000 population) 95.5 42 93.9 42 --- --- --- ---
Preventable Hospitalizations (Number per 1,000 Medicare enrollees) 87.6 39 87.5 42 --- --- --- ---
All Determinants -6.4 40 -5.6 37 -5.9 41 -6.3 46
                 
HEALTH OUTCOMES                
Poor Mental Health Days (Days in previous 30 days) 3 13 2.9 7 3.3 39 --- ---
Poor Physical Health Days (Days in previous 30 days) 3.3 17 3.2 9 3.3 29 --- ---
Infant Mortality (Deaths per 1,000 live births) 6.4 23 6.3 22 6.4 9 9.3 17
Cardiovascular Deaths (Deaths per 100,000 population) 336.6↓ 39 347.3 39 362.7 32 388 21
Cancer Deaths (Deaths per 100,000 population) 198.2 20