Recent headlines about increased child mortality nationwide may have been startling to many. But the snapshot in Hawaiʻi tells a completely different story.
Hawaiʻi's high housing costs are having an impact on the health of women and children. That's one of the findings in a recent study from the United Health Foundation.
The 2023 Health of Women and Children Report found that Hawaiʻi ranks No. 5 overall among all states when it comes to the health of children and women of childbearing age.
Hawaiʻi ranked No. 1 for specific metrics like air quality, children's access to preventive dental care, and maternal mortality rate.
However, Hawaiʻi ranks all the way at the bottom when it comes to the impact of housing issues on health care.
“We're 50th in severe housing problems, and we know that that's an issue. There's not enough housing. And actually, there's not enough affordable housing in Hawaiʻi — across all of the islands," said Dr. Denise Leonardi, the Hawaiʻi medical director for the UnitedHealthcare Community Plan.
"Part of that is due to the housing cost burden. We ranked 49th in housing costs because the cost of living in Hawaiʻi is higher than in most other states," Leonardi told The Conversation.
The report also found a national spike in maternal mortality, which is significantly higher among women identifying as Black, American Indian/Alaskan Native, and Hawaiian/Pacific Islander.
This interview aired on The Conversation on Nov. 9, 2023. The Conversation airs weekdays at 11 a.m. on HPR-1.
