Yearly health study ranks state 45th

<br>(Oklahoma-AP) -- Oklahoma remains near the bottom in a study of the healthiest states in the nation. <br><br>Oklahoma is 45th, one spot better than last year on the list of ``America's Health:

Monday, November 17th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma-AP) -- Oklahoma remains near the bottom in a study of the healthiest states in the nation.

Oklahoma is 45th, one spot better than last year on the list of ``America's Health: State Health Rankings.''

The study by the United Health Foundation says tobacco use is one of the reasons the state ranks low. Other factors include low access to prenatal care, low support for public health care, a high rate of residents without insurance a high rate of deaths from heart disease.

The study also has some good news, calling the high school graduation rate one of the state's strengths. Nearly 73-and-a-half percent of incoming ninth-graders graduate within four years. The report also says the number of infectious disease decreased and the infant mortality rate is down.

Minnesota and New Hampshire tied as the healthiest states. Tennessee, Arkansas, South Carolina, Louisiana and Mississippi are at the bottom of the list.