Children are healthier, but still too big
16.10.09
By many measures, North Carolina's children are unsurpassed healthier lives than they did eight years ago, an advocacy group reported Thursday.
More not up to par children have access to health and dental care, fewer teenage girls are getting meaningful, and fewer youngsters are exposed to lead, according to Action for Children North Carolina, which has published a boy health report card for 15 years.
The group, along with the N.C. Institute of Medicine, credited dignified policies that have improved health, including an expanded health insurance plan that covers more children in low-income households.
Still, the write-up stated that North Carolina has much room for improvement. Although the infant mortality rank has dipped, it remains higher than the national average, with eight babies dying for every 1,000 persist births in North Carolina. Nationally, the rate is less than seven deaths for every 1,000 explosive births.
And some bad problems in North Carolina got worse. In particular, the percentage of low-takings children who are obese rose in every age group, with 26 percent of poor youngsters ages 5-11 considered stout, and 29 percent of teens ages 12-18 obese. Too few children are physically functioning, as well.
Source: CharlotteObserver.com