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Show EDUCATION For the years reported, Utah shows a higher percentage of its population has completed high school and college than does the nation. (Table 21). Both Utah and the U.S. have shown a steady increase in the proportion of people completing both high school and college. In 1970, Utahns were 31% more likely to have completed college than were persons throughout the U.S. This dropped to 10% in 1990. Similarly, the ratio between Utah and the U.S. for high school completion was 1.29:1 in 1970, and it also dropped to a ratio of 1.13:1 in 1990. Generally, as a person's level of education increases, their awareness of what constitutes healthful behaviors increases and actual behavior becomes more healthful. A higher level of education also increases the likelihood of finding gainful employment (which usually provides health insurance) and obtaining a higher income, both of which affect access to and utilization of health care and health status. Percentage of Population 25 and Older Who Have Completed High School/College Table 21 High School College Year Utah U.S. Utah: U .S. (Ratio) Utah U. S. Utah: U .S. (Ratio) 1970 67.3 52.3 1. 29:1 14.0 10 .7 1. 31:1 1980 80.0 66.5 1. 20:1 19.9 16 .2 1. 23:1 1990 85.1 75.2 1. 13:1 22.3 20 .3 1. 10:1 Utah's Health: An Annual Review 1994 17 |