Jamie Hale/The Oregonian
(Above: Despite the hikers and climbers who flock to Mount Hood and the state's other outdoor enthusiasts, Oregon is average in an overall health rankings.)
BY LYNNE TERRY
THE OREGONIAN | OREGONLIVE
The health of Oregonians remains in the middle of the pack among states, pulled down by low rates of immunization and high school graduation, but boosted by physical activity and fewer drug deaths, according to an annual report.
America's Health Rankings found that Oregon improved by a notch, moving from 21st place in 2016 to 20th this year.
This is the 28th annual report from the United Health Foundation, which promotes health nationwide. The report, based on federal, state and local data, rates a wide range of factors such as deaths, infections, obesity, smoking, pollution and the number of health care providers per capita.
Massachusetts, Hawaii and Vermont, in that order, rank in the top three for health with Arkansas, Alabama and West Virginia at the bottom of the heap.
Here’s a look at the key findings for Oregon:
The Associated Press
(Above: Oregon has one of the worst high school graduation rates in the country.)
Oregon got dinged again in the report for having a low high school graduation rate compared with the rest of the country.
Oregon's rate is the third worst nationwide, with 75 percent of its students in 2016 graduating from high school. Only Nevada and New Mexico, which was in last place, fare worse.
Still, the 2016 rate for Oregon was 1 percentage point better than 2015.
The Oregonian/OregonLive
(Above: The best way to prevent pertussis is through vaccination.)
Whooping cough outbreaks gave Oregon a bad score in the report, putting it at 44th nationwide.
A festering problem is Oregon’s low vaccination rate, which once was the worst in the nation and has continued to lag.
In August, the federal Centers for Disease Prevention and Control said that only 83 percent of Oregon adolescents had received the Tdap, a booster shot against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough).
Pockets of the state, including in Jackson, Lane, Multnomah and Clackamas counties, have some of the lowest rates.
The Associated Press
(Above: Those who graduated from high school in Oregon reported having better health later on, a new report says.)
The report also found that Oregon has a relatively wide disparity between the health status of people who graduated from high school and those who didn’t.
In surveys, nearly 53 percent of those with a high school diploma said they were in good health, compared with just 22 percent of those without a diploma.
The Associated Press
(Above: Drug deaths overall have fallen in Oregon though fatalities from heroin rose in 2016.)
On the positive side, drug deaths have decreased in Oregon by 8 percent in the past year, the report found. Opioid deaths, which have dogged the state, fell from 6.5 cases per 100,000 in 2015 to 6 in 2016.
The picture varies per drug: The state recorded a drop in methadone deaths but experienced an uptick in fatalities caused by heroin, methamphetamines and psychostimulants, such as ecstasy and cocaine.
John Vincent
(Above: The Portland Marathon and other popular events keep Oregonians active.)
Oregon again ranks high in physical activity, at No. 3 nationwide following Utah at No. 1 and Colorado at No. 2.
The state also boasts a relative low prevalence of low birthweight newborns, making it No. 5 nationwide. Alaska is tops in the nation, followed by South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota, in that order.
Oregon also has a relatively high number of mental health providers compared with other states, but it’s dogged by a high suicide rate.
-- Lynne Terry
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