Positive and Negative Findings Revealed in West Virginia Children’s Health Annual Report

West Virginia’s children rank 44th nationally in overall well-being, according to a new report. However, there have been significant improvements in the health category, with the state now ranking 35th, an increase of four places from the previous year. The Kids Count Data Book, an annual report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, analyzes how children are faring in post-pandemic America.

The most recent data from 2022 shows improvements in the number of children covered by health insurance, obesity rates, and deaths among children and teens. On the downside, there has been an increase in the number of low birth-weight babies. The report also looks at categories such as economic development, education, family, and community well-being.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, with support from Marshall Health.