Community Health Assessment Report

Benton & Franklin Counties1996 Summary

Community Health Assessment

• Tri-City Area Health Care Task Force• Benton-Franklin District Health Department• A.H.E.C.

Methodology

• Quantifiable Data – VISTA Verified

• Qualitative Data– BRFSS (550)– Community Opinion Survey (600)– Key Informant Interviews

• Two Open Forums

Demographics & Socioeconomics

• 1994 Benton-Franklin population169,900 • 1990-1994 population increased annually by an average of

4,967• The largest group of Hispanics B&F counties under 9• In Benton County the number of Hispanic residents was

8,624 or 7.7% of the total population. • In Franklin County, there were 11,316 Hispanics or 30% of

the total population.• 15% of all children 18 years or younger in Benton County

live in poverty, 32% in Franklin County and 14.9% in the state.

Morbidity/Mortality

• The leading causes of death in Benton and Franklin Counties and the State of Washington were: Heart Disease, Stroke, Injury and COPD

• Unintentional Injury was the leading cause of death among those under 45 years old

• Cancer is the leading cause of death for females in both counties (respiratory cancer is single most common cause of cancer deaths)

• Benton and Franklin counties have significantly higher stroke mortality than the state

• Franklin County has a significantly higher rate of motor vehicle mortality than Benton County or Washington State

Apex Socioeconomic and Assess Indicators Data

Benton County Franklin County Washington StatePer Capita Income 1994 $20,122 $15,620 $21,289Percent living below FPL in 1990

11.8% 23.0% 10.2%Percent of those over 25 with less than high school education

16.2% 31.89% 16.3%

Percent of labor force unemployed

11.9% 13.9% 4.9%Percent of Population on food stamps

8% 16% 6.1%Percent of population enrolled in medical assistance

12.52% 29.43% 11.1%Estimated number of homeless persons

5,337Maximum age of children served by WIC

5 5 5Percent of minors enrolled in Medicaid who used EPSDT

27% 29% 21.4%

Access to Health Care

• Wide open spaces and long distances to health care and trauma centers affect access to care for the rural areas of Benton and Franklin Counties.

• Public Health, Mental Health, long term and acute care are becoming increasingly integrated

• Pasco has been identified as a shortage area• La Clinica is the only publicly subsidized health clinic in

the area.• health professional shortage area for dental care

providers

Social Issues

• 1990-1992 children who were DSHS clients• Violence• Teen Pregnancy, school drop out, drug and

alcohol misuse, attempted suicide and living with child abuse and domestic violence

• Individuals enrolled in state funded treatment programs of alcohol and other drug abuse

Public Health• From 1990 to 1994, the Environmental Health Division

investigated over 1,075 food related complaints.• Infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and vaccine-preventable

diseases such as measles continue to be a concern in the two-county area

• Chlamydia is the most common STD reported. Females age 15-19 are the most frequently affected.

• Forty-Two AIDS cases have been reported since 1986 in the two-county area. It is estimated that for every AIDS case there are 10-20 additional individuals infected with HIV.

• In a recent survey of area residents, less than 48% felt that their drinking water was “very safe”.

Birth and Perinatal Indicators• Of the 39 counties in WA, Benton Co. ranked 30th and Franklin

Co. 37th for mothers who reported smoking during pregnancy.• For four out of the six years from 1988 to 1993, Franklin County

had the highest teen pregnancy rate among Washington counties.

• In 1993, 4.2% of the infants born were low birth weight (This matches the target percentage set in the PHIP Year 2000 Goal for the state)

• The infant mortality rate in Franklin County was 10.2 per 1,000 live births from 1991-1993. In Benton County, that rate was 6.9 for the same period. The PHIP year 2000 target goal is less than 7.0 infant deaths per 1,000 live births.

General Health and Well-Being• 85% of the respondents reported having medical insurance coverage of

some kind.• 64% of those with medical coverage reported having a medical checkup in

the last year versus 35% of those who are uninsured.• About 14% of all respondents said that they need to see a health

professional within the last year but could not because of the cost• Among those households surveyed with young children, 46% reported

their youngest child never uses a bicycle helmet.• Based on reported heights and weights 30% of all respondents were

calculated to be overweight.• 53% of respondents reported experiencing allergy symptoms within the

two weeks previous to the survey.

Some Sample Priorities• Teen violence• Teen pregnancy• Drug usage• STDs• Alcohol use• Tobacco use• Immunizations• Infectious Disease

Transmission• Seat Belt Use

• Safe Drinking Water• Migrant Worker• Poverty• Affordable Housing• Dental Caries/Gum Disease• Publicly Subsidized Healthcare• Access to Primary Healthcare• Population Based Public Health• Prenatal Care/Infant Mortality

Next Step

• Implementing Change• Prioritizing Problems• Measurable Outcome

Indicators• Involvement of Entire

Community