Desha County Health Data
Desha County, Arkansas
CDC County Health RankingsHealth Score
18/100
Below Avg
Life Expectancy
70.6 yr
Uninsured Rate
10.5%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
70.6 yr
State avg 72.3 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
10.5%
State avg 9.9%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
45
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
67
per 100K population
National avg 350
Poor / Fair Health
33.8%
State avg 25.3%
National avg 19.6%
Healthcare Access
Primary Care Physicians
27.2
per 100K residentsCDC: 45.1 per 100K
Nurse Practitioners & PAs
9.1
per 100K residents
Provider counts from CMS NPPES (National Provider Identifier Registry). Data current as of 2026.
Chronic Disease & Behavioral Health
These prevalence estimates come from the CDC PLACES program (Population-Level Analysis and Community Estimates), which combines BRFSS survey data with statistical modeling to produce county-level rates. Estimates are age-adjusted to enable fair comparisons across counties with different age distributions. Use them to spot where Desha County differs most from state and national norms.
Most prevalent chronic conditions
| Measure | Desha | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity | 46.6% | 41.1% | 37.6% | 5.5 pts worse than state |
| Diabetes | 17.1% | 12.4% | 11.2% | 4.7 pts worse than state |
| High Blood Pressure | 46.7% | 39.6% | 33.5% | 7.1 pts worse than state |
| Depression | 24.5% | 25.9% | 24.1% | 1.4 pts better than state |
Health-risk behaviors
| Measure | Desha | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Cigarette Smoking | 23.0% | 18.7% | 16.3% | 4.3 pts worse than state |
| Binge Drinking | 12.5% | 15.6% | 17.8% | 3.1 pts better than state |
| Physical Inactivity | 44.3% | 34.3% | 27.0% | 10.0 pts worse than state |
Preventive-care uptake
| Measure | Desha | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Routine Checkup | 78.8% | 77.0% | 74.9% | 1.8 pts better than state |
| Dental Visit (past year) | 39.9% | 49.6% | 57.3% | 9.7 pts worse than state |
| Mammography (women 50–74) | 69.4% | 70.1% | 73.3% | 0.7 pts worse than state |
Daily-life impact
| Measure | Desha | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent Mental Distress | 22.7% | 20.7% | 18.6% | 2.0 pts worse than state |
| Short Sleep Duration | 44.3% | 41.1% | 37.3% | 3.2 pts worse than state |
These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Desha County nationally on physical inactivity.
Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.
Data Story
Over one-third of Desha County reports poor or fair health
Health data brief for Desha County, Arkansas.
In Desha County, 33.8% of residents report being in poor or fair health, which is nearly double the national average of 17%. The county has a life expectancy of 70.6 years, which is lower than the Arkansas state average of 72.3 years and significantly lower than the national average of 77 years. Access to medical services includes 45 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, compared to the national median of 70 per 100,000. The ratio of mental health providers is 67 per 100,000, much lower than the national median of 250 per 100,000. Additionally, the uninsured rate is 10.5%, which is slightly higher than the state average of 9.9% and the national rate of 10%. See the CDC County Health Rankings methodology.
Sources
- CDC County Health Rankings v2
- HHS NPPES
Get Care in Desha County, Arkansas
Direct contact information for hospitals and community health resources serving this county. Hospital quality ratings come from CMS Care Compare — the federal program that measures hospital performance on safety, patient experience, and outcomes.
Hospitals near you
Compare all on Medicare.gov →Mcgehee Hospital
ERDelta Memorial Hospital
EReHealth Insurance
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Data Sources
Health data sourced from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.
Data is informational only. Not medical or health advice. Coverage varies by county and reporting year.