FOUNDATION RATES HEALTH OF WV COUNTIES - Calhoun Ranks 38th

(04/05/2011)

Calhoun came in 38th of West Virginia's 55 counties in an overall rating of health of its citizens, one being the best and 55 being the worst. Kanawha is ranked at 37. The report has been released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The county faired rather well with access to healthcare services, likely related to the wide range of services provided by Minnie Hamilton Health System and school-based health services at Calhoun Middle-High School. Calhoun ranked 50th of 55 counties related to negative health factors, including adult smoking, adult obesity, teen birth rate, and sexually transmitted diseases. Calhoun ranked 54 of 55 counties related to negative social and economic factors, including unemployment, children living in poverty and single-parent households. With regional counties, Wirt County scored high on the report with a overall 5 rating, and Gilmer scored the worst at 47. Other overall regional ratings, Braxton 15, Ritchie 31, Roane 38, and Clay 41. The 10 healthiest counties are: Pendleton, Tucker, Monongalia, Grant, Wirt, Jefferson, Putnam, Hampshire, Marshall and Berkeley. The 10 least healthy counties are: McDowell, Mingo, Wyoming, Logan, Boone, Lincoln, Mercer, Wayne, Gilmer and Summers. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is dedicated to improving health care in America. Members of the foundation believe the quality of health programs offered locally impact the health of the entire community. The unhealthiest county in West Virginia is McDowell. The southern county has nearly double the state average of premature deaths. More than one-third of the county's population is considered in poor to fair health. Forty-six percent of children live in poverty and the teen birth rate is more than triple the national average. Counties ranking just above McDowell are Mingo, Wyoming, Logan and Boone counties. Read the study countyhealthrankings.org

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