Domingo Soto: Because Freedom Isn't Dumb

ALABAMA HEALTH RANKINGS RELEASED
"Alabama is tied with West Virginia for 43rd this year; it was also 43rd in 2003. Strengths include strong support for public health with 7.3 percent of the state health budget allocated to public health, high access to adequate prenatal care with 77.8 percent of pregnant women receiving adequate prenatal care and a moderate rate of uninsured population at 14.2 percent. Alabama's challenges include a high prevalence of obesity at 28.4 percent of the population (Our state is the fattest, click here for details), a high premature death rate with 9,814 years of potential life lost before age 75 per 100,000 population and a low high school graduation rate with 57.2 percent of incoming ninth graders who graduate within four years. Alabama is 39th for the combined measures of risk factors and 47th for the combined measures of outcomes, indicating that the state's relative healthiness may remain steady or improve in future years. Disparities in health outcomes are high in Alabama, as shown in the difference in premature death rates. "
(Suggested by Jim Sturdevant)