Data Graphics

Data included in the latest edition of America’s Health Rankings shows that Ohio is one of the top 10 states in the U.S. for percentage of residents served by water systems that have fluoridated water. Fluoride is added to water as a proven public health measure to prevent tooth loss and decay and reduce cavities. It is also a naturally occurring mineral present in the Earth’s crust, and can be found in soil, water and many food products.

According to 2020 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 92.7% of Ohioans had access to fluoridated drinking water, compared to 72.7% in the U.S. overall. Ohio’s high percentage of residents served by fluoridated water is highlighted as one of the state’s strengths in 2023-2027 State Oral Health Plan.

Although Ohio ranks high for community water fluoridation, the state still faces challenges with overall oral health. In the 2024 Health Value Dashboard, Ohio ranked 39th for poor oral health, illustrating that water fluoridation is an important tool to improve oral health, but is not sufficient to address the challenges facing the state. The State Oral Health Plan lays out ways that state leaders can address barriers to oral health for Ohioans.

The Health Policy Institute of Ohio’s recently released policy brief “Protecting against the harms of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)” found that while adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can be traumatic, the harms associated with them are not inevitable.

One potential protective factor against ACEs is supportive relationships outside of the family, such as neighbors, mentors and peers. However, in 2021, only half of Ohio high school students reported that they felt they were able to talk to a friend about their feelings.

As illustrated above, students with four or more ACEs were less likely to report having a trusted adult or friend to talk to compared to students with no ACEs. Research has shown similar results elsewhere, demonstrating that children with the greatest risk of ACEs often have the least access to mitigating factors.

Since 2020, HPIO has analyzed ACEs and what Ohio can do to address them. Informed by a  multi-sector advisory group, HPIO’s  Ohio ACEs Impact Project  includes a series of policy briefs and an  online resource page  to build on and amplify current efforts to address ACEs in Ohio.

The Health Policy Institute of Ohio has released a new fact sheet titled “Uplifting Community Voices: Employment and maternal and child health.”

The factsheet highlights employment policies that support maternal and infant health, using the city of Cincinnati as a case study. The Health Policy Institute of Ohio (HPIO) interviewed two city of Cincinnati leaders, Latisha Hazell, Human Resources Director, and Laura Castillo, Director of the Department of Economic Inclusion.

Policies outlined in the brief are important because they empower individuals and parents, enhance job opportunities and have been demonstrated to improve birth outcomes.

As illustrated above, wage gaps between races and genders vary by occupation and factors such as discrimination, racism, type of job, education and work experience.

By implementing a living wage initiative and an updated parental leave policy, Cincinnati has championed evidence-based practices designed to increase equity and foster a supportive work environment for city employees and contractors.

“Employment can support health and reduce infant mortality when it provides access to a living wage, resources and benefits such as health insurance and paid leave,” the report states. “On the other hand, research indicates that unemployment during pregnancy is linked to lower birth weights and higher infant mortality rates. Working parents are essential contributors to Ohio’s economy. When their jobs support their ability to provide stable housing, high-quality child care and healthy food to their families, all Ohioans benefit.”

Recent analysis from the Health Policy Institute of Ohio found that there are stark differences in financial insecurity across Ohio. As illustrated above, for example, Ohioans living in Appalachia were more likely to live below the federal poverty level than Ohioans in other parts of the state.

The analysis was included in HPIO’s recently released policy brief, Creating a Financially Prosperous Ohio: Strategies to Improve Family Financial Security.

The brief highlighted data connecting financial insecurity to a variety of negative health outcomes across generations, including exposure to adverse childhood experiences (potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood). This can negatively affect children’s long-term mental, physical and financial health.

Still, Ohioans are resilient, and Ohio leaders can create environments and opportunities that allow every family to thrive.The HPIO brief includes strategies for how public and private partners can support financial prosperity and prevent childhood adversity.

The Health Policy Institute of Ohio has released a new policy brief titled “Protecting against the harms of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).”

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can be traumatic, but the harms associated with ACEs are not inevitable. Protective factors are positive experiences, resources and assets, including supportive people, that can buffer children and families against the harmful effects of ACEs and trauma. They are also associated with improved health and well-being and are valuable for all people throughout life.

This brief describes:

• Policy options to foster and strengthen protective factors at all levels
• Protective factors that help children and families build resilience at the community, interpersonal and individual levels
• Analysis of Ohio protective factors data

As illustrated above, HPIO analysis of 2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data shows that 87% of Ohio adults had someone in their household who made them feel safe and protected most or all of the time during childhood, and 94% of respondents said they had someone who tried to meet their basic needs most or all of the time. Unfortunately, individuals who experienced two or more ACEs were almost twice as likely to report not having an adult in their home who made them feel safe and protected, making them much more susceptible to poor health outcomes.

The paper’s release comes shortly after the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory on the mental health and well-being of parents. The report noted high levels of parental stress over the past decade, with almost half of parents (48%) saying that their stress was completely overwhelming most days. The advisory provides recommendations to support parental mental health and well-being, a key component in ensuring children are protected against ACEs.

Since 2020, HPIO has analyzed ACEs and what Ohio can do to address them. Informed by a  multi-sector advisory group, HPIO’s  Ohio ACEs Impact Project  includes a series of policy briefs and an  online resource page  to build on and amplify current efforts to address ACEs in Ohio.

Support for this project was provided by the Harmony Project and HPIO’s core funders.

In August, HPIO has released a new data snapshot highlighting health in rural and Appalachian Ohio.

Living in communities with access to opportunity and resources is a key contributor to Ohioans’ health, well-being and economic security. There are many positive aspects of living in rural areas of Ohio, but the more than 2.3 million Ohioans who live in rural counties face a number of challenges that contribute to poor health outcomes.

The snapshot illustrates differences in community conditions, access to care, poverty and chronic stress. It also highlights health outcomes, such as deaths among working-age Ohioans.

As illustrated above, the trauma and stress associated with poverty puts Ohioans with lower incomes at higher risk of tobacco use and associated harms, as well as mental distress. The higher poverty rate in rural, Appalachian counties is echoed in higher smoking rates and rates for mental distress.

The snapshot also includes links to resources for state and local leaders. According to the snapshot, “There are many effective strategies that state and local leaders can use to ensure that Ohioans living in rural areas have access to the resources and environments needed to promote health and well-being.”