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November 17, 2003
HONOLULU – According to a report released today by the United
Health Foundation, Hawaii is the 10th healthiest state in
which to live. The annual America’s Health: State Health
Rankings is a yearly analysis of the relative healthiness of the
American population. Hawai`i has ranked among the top 10 states for 12
of the 14 years the report has been published.
Hawaii moved to 10th from 13th last year due
to number one rankings in the following areas:
- Low risk of heart disease
- Low rate of deaths from heart disease
- Low rate of deaths from cancer
- Low mortality rate
- Low prevalence of limited activity days per month
Other strengths include:
- Low prevalence of smoking
- Low violent crime rate
- Low rate of uninsured population
- Low premature death rate
A higher than average infant mortality rate and incidence of
infectious diseases lowered the State’s overall ranking, as did
non-health related topics such as low high school graduation rates and
a greater prevalence of occupational fatalities.
The rankings incorporate measures that reflect the decisions made by
individuals that affect personal health, the community environment that
affects the health of individuals and families, and the policy
decisions made by public officials that determine the availability of
public health and medical care resources.
Measures such as prevalence of smoking, high school graduation
rates, infant mortality rates, occupational health, and support for the
public health infrastructure are combined to produce a composite
assessment of the health of each state and the overall health of the
nation.
The United Health Foundation partners with the American Public
Health Association (APHA) and Partnership for Prevention each year to
release this report. Data is supplied by sources such as the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, National Safety Council, U.S.
Department of Education, and U.S. Department of Labor.
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For more information, contact:
Janice Okubo
Communications Director
Phone: (808) 586-4442
E-mail: jsokubo@mail.health.state.hi.us
Laura M. Lott
Department of Health
Information Specialist
Phone: (808) 586-4418
E-mail: lmlott@mail.health.state.hi.us
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