America's Health Rankings
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WEST VIRGINIA

Ranking:  West Virginia is 44th this year; it was 43rd in 2006. 

Strengths: Strengths include a low prevalence of binge drinking at 11.1 percent of the population, a low violent crime rate at 280 offenses per 100,000 population, a low incidence of infectious disease at 10.5 cases per 100,000 population and ready access to adequate prenatal care with 81.1 percent of pregnant women receiving adequate prenatal care.  West Virginia ranks higher for health determinants than for health outcomes, indicating that overall healthiness should improve over time.

Challenges: Challenges include a high prevalence of smoking at 25.7 percent of the population, a high prevalence of obesity at 31.0 percent of the population, many poor mental and physical health days per month at 4.4 days and 5.2 days respectively in the previous 30 days, a high rate of cancer deaths at 225.9 deaths per 100,000 population and a high rate of deaths from cardiovascular disease at 374.8 deaths per 100,000 population.

Significant Changes:

↓ In the past year, the rate of uninsured population decreased from 16.9 percent to 13.5 percent.

↑ In the past year, the occupational fatalities rate increased from 10.0 to 11.2 deaths per 100,000 workers.

↑ Since 1990, the violent crime rate increased from 138 to 280 offenses per 100,000 population.

↓ Since 1990, the incidence of infectious disease decreased from 14.5 to 10.5 cases per 100,000 population.

Health Disparities: In West Virginia, blacks experience 33 percent more premature death than whites.  Deaths from cancer in the state are 16 percent more prevalent among blacks than whites.  Residents in non-urban areas of the state experience 23 percent more premature death than residents in the fringe counties of large metropolitan areas.

State Health Department Web Site:     www.wvdhhr.org/
 


 

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West Virginia                
  2007   2006   2000   1990  
DETERMINANTS - Personal Behaviors Value Rank Value Rank Value Rank Value Rank
Prevalence of Smoking (Percent of population) 25.7↓ 49 26.7 47 27.1 44 34 45
Binge Drinking (Percent of population) 11.1 6 9.1* 3* 8.5* 3* --- ---
Prevalence of Obesity (Percent of population) 31 49 30.6 48 24.6 50 15 49
High School Graduation (Percent of incoming ninth graders) 76.9↑ 25 75.7 27 75.3* 17* 77.1* 22
DETERMINANTS - Community Environment                
Violent Crime (Offenses per 100,000 population) 280 12 274 14 249 9 138 1
Occupational Fatalities (Deaths per 100,000 workers) 11.2↑ 47 10 43 8.8 44 15* 45
Infectious Disease (Cases per 100,000 population) 10.5 16 10.7 16 10.8 6 14.5 7
Children in Poverty (Percent of persons under age 18) 21.2 44 21.4 44 22.6 47 27.8 47
DETERMINANTS - Public & Health Policies                
Lack of Health Insurance (Percent without health insurance) 13.5↓ 23 16.9 37 15.1 36 13.6 32
Per Capita Public Health Spending (Dollars per person) $95 39 $95 39 --- --- --- ---
Immunization Coverage (Percent of children ages 19 to 35 months) 77.8↑ 39 74.9 46 77.8 19 --- ---
DETERMINANTS - Clinical Care                
Adequacy of Prenatal Care (Percent of pregnant women) 81.1 10 81.1 10 76.4* 24* 62.1* 45*
Primary Care Physicians (Number per 100,000 population) 104.9 34 103.9 34 --- --- --- ---
Preventable Hospitalizations (Number per 1,000 Medicare enrollees) 114.4 49 115.2 50 --- --- --- ---
All Determinants -5.6 38 -5.7 38 -6.7 43 -3.9 40
                 
HEALTH OUTCOMES                
Poor Mental Health Days (Days in previous 30 days) 4.4 47 4.5 49 2.9 21 --- ---
Poor Physical Health Days (Days in previous 30 days) 5.2 49 5.2 50 4 48 --- ---
Infant Mortality (Deaths per 1,000 live births) 7.9 38 7.3 34 8.8 44 10 27
Cardiovascular Deaths (Deaths per 100,000 population) 374.8 46 383.6 47 411.2 48 460.8 50
Cancer Deaths (Deaths per 100,000 population) 225.9 49