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Report: Arizona worst in nation for harmful childhood experiences

Arizona is the least healthiest state for children in the U.S., the report found.

Arizona is at the bottom of the list when it comes to adverse childhood experiences, according to an annual report by America's Health Rankings.

The report says a higher percentage of Arizona children are faced with adversities or traumatic experiences than any other state's children, making it the least healthy state in the U.S, according to the report's findings.

According to the report, 30.6 percent of Arizona children were faced with two or more hardships last year. That's nearly 10 percent above the national average of 21.7.

These adversities include, according to the report, divorce, living with someone with a drug or alcohol problem, living with someone who is mental ill, suicidal or severely depressed, witnessing domestic violence, parent in jail or served time in jail, death of a parent and subjected to unfair treatment due to race and ethnicity.

The senior coordinator of the Strong Families program at Phoenix Children's Hospital told KTAR News facing these adversities could have as great of an impact on a child as an injury or chronic illness.

New York ranks as the healthiest state when it comes to adverse childhood experiences, the report found.

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