Based on a recent health ranking, Cochise County falls in the middle of Arizona’s 15 counties.

The study was conducted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. The 2010 County Health Rankings reviewed all 50 states and compiled a report for each of the 50, using a ranking system that examined set criteria.

“Health rankings come and go,” said Vaira Harik, director of the county health department. “We’re right in the middle for the state, and that doesn’t surprise me. It gives us some good information about our strong areas and where we could improve.”

Generally speaking, Cochise County ranked sixth in the state for its “health factors” measure — criteria that influence the health of the county — and ninth in “health outcomes,” a representation of how healthy a county is.

Lower numbers translate to higher ranks in the model. The “health factors” rankings are based on weighted scores in four areas: health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic, and environmental.

Under the behavioral component, which carries 30 percent of the “health factors” measurement, evaluators look at tobacco use, diet and exercise, alcohol use and unsafe sex. The clinical care component, which looks at access to health care and quality of care, is 20 percent of the ranking. Social and economic factors, accounting for 40 percent of the score, look at education, employment, income, family and social support, as well as community safety. Ten percent of the health factors ranking falls under physical environment, which takes in environmental quality and a category called “built environment.”

Harik believes the county’s more remote regions can create challenges for families when it comes to getting to grocery stores where healthy foods like fresh fruits and vegetables are available.

“Accessibility to healthy foods in Cochise County is sometimes difficult for families who live in rural areas,” Harik said. “This particular component of the study was an eye-opener for me. Eating healthy in Cochise County is a deliberate, intentional act, especially in the rural areas where families are forced to drive long distances to grocery stores.”

Harik says the finding presents public health officials, educators and families with a whole new lifestyle process that should be examined.

“Prepared foods may be faster and less expensive, but they don’t carry the health benefits that fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains do,” she said.

The county has a number of programs in place to help residents embrace healthier lifestyles, Harik added. “We have a few active adults program with a dietitian and personal trainer that we hope adults take advantage of,” she said. “We help day care centers with their First Things First program, where children are given healthy foods based on specific guidelines and are encouraged to be physically active for one hour every day.”

County rankings

Health outcomes

1. Yuma, 2. Santa Cruz, 3. Maricopa, 4. Greenlee, 5. Coconino, 6. Pima, 7. Yavapai, 8. Pinal, 9. Cochise, 10. Graham, 11. Mohave, 12. La Paz, 13. Apache, 14. Navajo, 15. Gila.

Health factors

1. Pima, 2. Yavapai, 3. Coconino, 4. Maricopa, 5. Greenlee, 6. Cochise, 7. Graham, 8. Pinal, 9. Santa Cruz, 10. Gila, 11. Navajo, 12. La Paz, 13. Yuma, 14. Mohave, 15. Apache.