Online Program

Panel Discussion

Measuring the distribution of health determinants and outcomes by state provides useful data on the condition of the average resident but often masks important differences in health within a state’s population. When health metrics are stratified by race/ethnicity, gender, age, education, place of residence, and/or economic status, significant differences can emerge that are important for states to recognize. Understanding how social determinants of health, including education, are associated with health behaviors and outcomes is essential to both reduce disparities and improve population health through targeted policy development and implementation and public health practice. Current research indicates that Americans with less education live shorter lives and have poorer health. In today’s knowledge economy, higher levels of education can lead to better employment opportunities which may include health insurance, access to medical care, and financial resources to live in a healthy community. Education is also associated with healthier lifestyle and behaviors. In the United States, 28.9% of adults with less than a high school education smoke, compared to only 7.8% of college graduates. Likewise, physical inactivity among those with less than a high school education is 41.7% compared to only 12.3% of college graduates. The session will highlight disparities in health determinants and health status by education across the states, focus on the importance of examining the relationship between education and health in policy and practice, and the role educational institutions play in addressing social determinants of health. Attendees will acquire a greater appreciation for the role education plays in epidemiologic research, and how these health implications may be increasingly important to the education and public policy communities. The purpose of this session is to initiate a discussion and awareness among researchers, policy makers, educators, and public health practitioners of the association between education and health determinants and outcomes, and to illustrate how public health practitioners and others can take action to reduce health disparities using data.

Session Objectives: Identify disparities in health behaviors and health status by educational attainment across the states. Describe how to use America’s Health Rankings visualization tools to communicate disparity data. Evaluate the association and policy implications between education and health. Describe the collaboration between Big 10 Universities and their state health departments to address health equity issues in an effort to improve population health.