Strengths:

• High immunization coverage
• Low geographic disparity within the state
• Low occupational fatalities rate

 

Challenges:

• High levels of air pollution
• High prevalence of smoking
• High rate of preventable hospitalizations

 

Highlights:

• In the past five years, air pollution decreased from 13.9 to 12.0 micrograms of fine particulate per cubic meter.
• In the past five years, the rate of preventable hospitalizations decreased from 88.0 to 78.5 discharges per 1,000 Medicare enrollees; however, it still remains high compared to other states.
• In the past ten years, the rate of uninsured population increased from 10.7 percent to 13.7 percent. Last year it was 13.7 percent.
• Last year, the per capita public health funding was $45 per person; this year it is $51 per person.
• Smoking remains high at 25.1 percent of the adult population, with more than 2.2 million adult smokers.

 

Disparities:

• In Ohio, obesity is more prevalent among non-Hispanic blacks at 42.5 percent than Hispanics at 33.1 percent and non-Hispanic whites at 28.7 percent; and sedentary lifestyle is more prevalent among non-Hispanic blacks at 35.0 percent than Hispanics at 27.6 percent and non-Hispanic whites at 25.3 percent.

 

State Health Department Web Site: www.odh.ohio.gov