Grant County ranks low for health

MOSES LAKE — Grant County’s health is ranked 28 out of Washington state’s 39 counties.

The county ranked number one is considered the healthiest county in the state. The numbers are collected by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin.

The categories used to rank the counties give public health officials an indication of the general health of the community. Grant County had high death rates, disease rates and unhealthy behaviors, according to the study.

District administrators say they are concerned with Grant County’s teen pregnancy rate because it is listed as double the Washington state average.

“The findings of this report are in line with data we already collected and analyzed,” said Joy Reese, the health district’s assessment coordinator. “What makes this report compelling is how we compare with other counties.

Health district employees are continuing to evaluate data while working towards solutions, according to a health district spokesperson.

To view the county health rankings, visit www.countyhealthrankings.org.

— Staff report