9. South Carolina
South Carolina maintained its spot as the 42nd healthiest state. The state has seen a decrease in both childhood immunization rates and infant mortality rates over the past year. It has the second-highest rate of infectious diseases.
Strengths: Low prevalence of excessive drinking; low incidence of pertussis; low rate of preventable hospitalizations.
Challenges: High incidence of infectious diseases; low immunization coverage among adolescents; high prevalence of low birth weight
