PROJECT DOES SEPARATE RANKINGS REPORTS OF EVERY COUNTY FOR EVERY U.S. STATE; REPORT FOR KENTUCKY SHOWS NEARLY ALL EASTERN & SOUTHEASTERN AT BOTTOM QUARTER OF RANKINGS
MAY 22, 2020 – written by WADE QUEEN
THE GREEN MAP SHOWS THE DISTRIBUTION OF KENTUCKY’S HEALTH OUTCOMES RANKS ACROSS COUNTIES, ACCORDING TO THE LATEST ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION COUNTY HEALTH RANKINGS REPORT THE MAP IS DIVIDED INTO FOUR QUARTILES WITH LESS COLOR INTENSITY INDICATING BETTER HEALTH OUTCOMES IN THE RESPECTIVE SUMMARY RANKINGS.
A recent report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute has ranked the 120 counties in Kentucky on health outcomes, and, according to the report, Lawrence County is low on the chart, as it was ranked 99th out of 120 counties in the state for health outcomes and 90 out of 120 for health factors.
Data points examined in making the rankings include: Length and quality of life, and health factors such as tobacco use, diet and exercise, alcohol and drug use, sexual activity, access to care, quality of care, education, employment, income, family and social support, community safety, air and water quality, and housing and transit.
The vast majority of Eastern Kentucky & Southeastern Kentucky counties do not fare well in the report, with most of them ranked in the bottom quarter of the rankings
The six neighboring counties bordering Lawrence County did not fare well mostly in the chart as well (Boyd County was the somewhat exception). Our six neighboring counties were ranked as the following:
Boyd County: was ranked 74th out of 120 counties in the state for health outcomes and 44 out of 120 for health factors.
Carter County: was ranked 76th out of 120 counties in the state for health outcomes and 98 out of 120 for health factors.
Elliot County: was ranked 101th out of 120 counties in the state for health outcomes and 108 out of 120 for health factors.
Morgan County: ranked 82nd out of 120 counties in the state for health outcomes and 96 out of 120 for health factors.
Johnson County: was ranked 94th out of 120 counties in the state for health outcomes and 75 out of 120 for health factors.
Martin County: was ranked 105th out of 120 counties in the state for health outcomes and 105 out of 120 for health factors.
The three counties that were ranked worst in the total of both outcomes and factors in the order were Owsley County, which was ranked next to last in both categories (119); Clay County was ranked 117th out of 120 counties in the state for health outcomes and in last place with 120 for health factors; and Breathitt County was ranked in last place with 120 counties in the state for health outcomes and 117 out of 120 for health factors.
The entire report for the 2020 county health rankings for the 120 ranked counties in Kentucky can be read HERE; and also where you can download the actual report in a PDF format.
