Birmingham, AL – A new study shows Alabama has one of the largest gaps of any state between the health of its poor and those with higher incomes.
The study, released Wednesday, found that Alabama ranked 48th in the size of the gap in children's general health based on family income.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation sponsored the study, which looked at how disparities in education and income affect the health of children. It also looked at how improving education could lower death rates.
The study found that 16.9 percent of children in lower-income families were in poor health. But only 5.4 percent of children in higher-income families were reported in poor health.
Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, Alabama ranked 48th in the size of the gap.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)