Disparities are among the main challenges that the US healthcare system faces. Poor members of minority communities are the most disadvantaged as regards access to high quality care. The disparities are the result of a combination of structural inequalities and deliberate efforts to disenfranchise the voiceless and powerless. Apart from the income and racial disparities, there are also differences among the states. There are some states that perform remarkably well as they have invested heavily in the health and the wellbeing of their people. On the other hand are other states whose health systems are in ruins and their citizens report higher incidences of poor health. Oklahoma is one of these states. It has consistently ranked as among the least healthy states in the country. Oklahoma is among the unhealthiest states largely because of obesity, limited physical activity among its citizens, unsafe workplaces, and poverty, among other factors.
Background
United Health Foundation is among the organizations that track the health of Americans living in different states. In its report for 2018, this organization identified Oklahoma as one of the states whose citizens report unacceptably poor health outcomes. According to the report, Oklahoma ranked 47 th (“2018 Annual Report”, 2018). In compiling the report, the United Health Foundation relies on various indicators of human health. The main metrics used to develop the ranking include behaviors, clinical care, policy and community and environment. A low rank means that a state has failed to develop the appropriate policies needed to enhance clinical care by improving individual behaviors and establishing community resources that citizens can leverage to safeguard their physical and psychological wellbeing. In the following section, the specific factors that have received blame for Oklahoma’s poor performance are identified.
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Drivers of Health in Oklahoma
A variety of factors are responsible for Oklahoma’s recognition as among the least unhealthy states in the country. Obesity is among these factors. This state is among those with high rates of obesity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016), as many as 35.2% of the residents of Oklahoma are overweight with 33.0% considered obese. These statistics shed light on why Oklahoma has been unable to safeguard the welfare of its people. Obesity and being overweight have been linked to a number of illnesses which include Diabetes and heart disease. In identifying Oklahoma as one of the unhealthiest states, the United Health Foundation gave special attention to the state’s worryingly high rates of obesity. If the state is to improve its ranking, it must adopt policies that respond directly to the obesity problem.
The obesity challenge is not the only issue that is behind Oklahoma’s poor ranking in terms of health. Physical inactivity is another matter that has been linked to the state’s poor health outcomes. The data shared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that only 38.5% of the state’s citizens reported engaging in at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day (CDC, 2016). This figure means that over 60% of Oklahomans are dangerously inactive. The inactivity exposes them to a wide range of health conditions that include depression, high blood pressure, type 2 Diabetes, and certain cancers (“Risks of Physical”, n.d). It cannot be left to the authorities in Oklahoma to tackle the physical inactivity problem alone. The state’s residents must demonstrate initiative and take charge of their own health.
Poverty is another factor that has caused Oklahoma to be recognized as among those whose people are in poor health (“2018 Annual Report”, 2018). Figures show that the poverty rate in the state stood at 16.3% in 2016 (“2016 Oklahoma Poverty”, n.d). This high poverty rate allows one to understand why the state continues to appear at the bottom of health rankings. Poverty is among the key determinants of health. In general, poverty depresses health outcomes. Poor populations lack the resources needed to gain access to high quality care. Furthermore, these populations are more likely to lack health insurance and are unable to adopt healthy lifestyles such as physical activity and proper diets. Moreover, poverty robs citizens of political power, making it nearly impossible to agitate for reforms that secure their health. There is no doubt that if Oklahoma fails to lift its people out of poverty, its citizens will continue to record disappointingly poor health outcomes.
Safe workplaces are among the factors that contribute to human health. Across the nation, states have taken steps to insulate employees against workplace hazards. However, in Oklahoma, little progress has been made. Data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that Oklahoma is one of the states that lead the nation in the number of deaths that occur at the workplace (Cohn, 2018). This data shows that Oklahoma lags behind other states which have instituted measures aimed at making workplaces safer. In addition to the unsafe workplaces, Oklahoma also grapples with the problem of high crime (Cohn, 2018). Crime creates the ideal conditions for poor health. Another issue that Oklahoma faces is its failure to ensure that all of its citizens feel included (Cohn, 2018). The sense of isolation and disenfranchisement that its citizens must experience exposes them to various health hazards. In summary, Oklahoma’s poor ranking is the outcome of various factors. These factors are a combination of personal failures, structural inefficiencies and leadership ineptness. To improve the state’s health, interventions should be targeted at all of these factors.
This far, the discussion has presented Oklahoma as a state whose authorities do not prioritize human health. The argument remains valid. However, in order to achieve balance and ensure that all voices are represented, it is essential to consider the opposing view. It can be argued that Oklahoma’s performance is acceptable. This assertion would be grounded on the fact that in the past few years, Oklahoma has made significant progress that has seen its ranking improve. For example, as reported by Franklin (2017), Oklahoma’s ranking moved from 47 to 43. This improvement suggests that the state’s authorities have implemented interventions with the primary aim of safeguarding the wellbeing of the state’s citizens. It is indeed impressive and encouraging that Oklahoma’s ranking has improved significantly. However, this improvement does not distract from the fact that the state still performs poorly. Even at position 43, Oklahoma still ranks below dozens of states whose healthcare systems have witnessed heavy investment and have yielded improved health outcomes. There is no doubt that more concerted efforts are needed if the people of Oklahoma are to experience better health. In its current state, the Oklahoma healthcare system and environment is simply inefficient and incompetent and cannot be expected to secure the wellbeing of Oklahomans.
In conclusion, the US has witnessed an encouraging improvement in the health of its people. However, states like Oklahoma continue to struggle in their efforts to ensure that their people’s health is secured. Over the last few years, this state has featured at the bottom of the ranking of states by health. In the most recent report, this state occupied the 47 th position. To understand the state’s poor performance, one should understand that a number of factors collude to frustrate the state’s efforts to improve the health of its people. Obesity, physical inactivity, high crime, and failure to promote inclusiveness are among these factors. To address the challenges that it faces, Oklahoma needs to partner with other stakeholders. It should also turn to healthier states for guidance and inspiration.
References
2016 Oklahoma poverty profile. (n.d). Oklahoma Policy Institute. Retrieved February 21, 2019 from https://okpolicy.org/2016-oklahoma-poverty-profile/
2018 annual report. (2018). United Health Foundation. Retrieved February 21, 2019 from https://www.americashealthrankings.org/learn/reports/2018-annual-report/findings-state-rankings
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2016). Oklahoma state nutrition, physical activity, and obesity profile. CDC. Retrieved February 21, 2019 from https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/state-local-programs/profiles/oklahoma.html
Cohn, S. (2018). America’s 10 worst states to live in. CNBC. Retrieved February 21, 2019 from https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/28/americas-worst-states-to-live-in-2018.html
Franklin, D. (2017). Oklahoma no longer one of the five least healthy states, new report shows. Oklahoma News 4. Retrieved February 21, 2019 from https://kfor.com/2017/12/13/oklahoma-no-longer-one-of-the-five-least-healthy-states-new-report-shows/
Risks of physical inactivity. (n.d). John Hopkins Medicine. Retrieved February 21, 2019 from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/cardiovascular_diseases/risks_of_physical_inactivity_85,p00218
