2008
State of the County Health Report
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Overview
The 2008 Stanly County State of the County Health (SOTCH)
report is a yearly review of the county’s health indicators and status. The purpose of this report is to inform the community
and stakeholders about the health status of our residents. The Stanly County SOTCH Report complements
and updates the information provided in the Stanly County 2007 Community Health
Assessment.
The State of North Carolina requires every county to
write a SOTCH report every year, except the year the Community Health
Assessment is prepared. A Community
Health Assessment Report is prepared every four years. Stanly County’s most current Community Health
Assessment was written in 2007 by the Stanly County Health Department.
The 2007 Community Health Assessment and 2008 SOTCH
Report can be accessed at http://health.co.stanly.nc.us/.
Introduction
Stanly County is located in
the south central portion of North Carolina, approximately 45 miles east of
Charlotte. There are 10 incorporated
communities in the county: Albemarle, Badin, Locust, New London, Norwood,
Oakboro, Richfield, Stanfield, Red Cross, and the Village of Misenheimer. There
are also several unincorporated communities which include Aquadale, Frog Pond,
Porter, Cottonville, and Millingport. According to the 2000 North
Carolina Department of Commerce, 32.3% live in urban areas and 66.1% of the
population lives in a rural setting. Of
that rural setting total, 1.7% (962) live on farms.
Stanly County has become
increasingly influenced by the growth occurring in the Charlotte region. Overall, the county has experienced slow,
steady population growth but recent expansion of east/west highways is making
Stanly County an attractive location for new economic and residential
developments. Stimulating new economic development and increasing employment
options have become focal points of the county but displaced workers and
out-of-county commuting has presented challenges to the socio-economic fabric
of the community. According to the 2000
North Carolina Department of Commerce, 68.2% of the county residents work in
Stanly County, 31.1% work outside Stanly County, and 0.8% work outside of North
Carolina.
Demographics
The U.S. Census Bureau estimated that the population of
Stanly County was 59,195 in 2007. The
median age is estimated to be 39.1. The
demographics of Stanly County are as follows:
|
POPULATION DATA |
||
|
Race/Ethnicity |
||
|
Race |
Number |
Percentage
(%) |
|
Caucasian/White |
50,570 |
85.4% |
|
African-American/Black |
6,974 |
11.8% |
|
Asian |
1,048 |
1.7% |
|
American
Indian/Alaskan Native |
157 |
.2% |
|
Native
Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander |
19 |
.03% |
|
Two
or more races |
427 |
.72% |
|
Ethnicity |
Number |
Percentage
(%) |
|
Hispanic/Latino |
1,951 |
3.3% |
|
Sex and Age |
||
|
Sex |
Number |
Percentage
(%) |
|
Male |
29,243 |
49.4% |
|
Female |
29,952 |
50.6% |
|
Age |
Number |
Percentage
(%) |
|
Under
5 years |
3,655 |
6.2% |
|
5 to
9 years |
3,714 |
6.3% |
|
10
to14 years |
3,873 |
6.5% |
|
15 to
19 years |
4,162 |
7.0% |
|
20 to
24 years |
3,453 |
5.8% |
|
25 to
34 years |
7,345 |
12.4% |
|
35 to
44 years |
8,473 |
14.3% |
|
45 to
54 years |
8,537 |
14.4% |
|
55 to
59 years |
3,922 |
6.6% |
|
60 to
64 years |
3,255 |
5.5% |
|
65 to
74 years |
4,524 |
7.6% |
|
75 to
84 years |
3,078 |
5.2% |
|
Over
85 years |
1,204 |
2.0% |
Priorities
The Stanly County Health Department in collaboration with
Partners in Health, the Stanly County Healthy Carolinians task force,
identified county health priorities after reviewing the results of the 2007
Community Health Assessment and additional secondary data from the North
Carolina State Center for Health Statistics.
The community focused priorities for FY2008-2010 are: Health Promotion
(Obesity, Substance Abuse, & Adolescent Pregnancy/STD Prevention), Injury
Prevention, and Infant Mortality Reduction.
The following table highlights the results of the 2007 Community Health
Assessment, secondary data, and identified risk facts.
Community Health Concern Matrix
|
Areas of Concern Identified through Primary Data
Collection |
Areas of Concern Identified through Secondary Data |
Modifiable Risk Factors Associated with Identified Concerns |
|
2007 Community
Survey
2007 Leader Survey
|
·
Leading Causes of
Mortality o
Heart Disease o
Cancer – all o
Cancer – trachea,
bronchus & lung o
Chronic Lower
Respiratory Disease o
Pneumonia &
Influenza o
Diabetes o
Cancer –
Breast (↓state average) o
Motor Vehicle
Injuries (↓ state average) o
Unintentional
Injuries (↓ state average) ·
Maternal &
Child Health Factors o
Infant Mortality o
Low Birth Weight
Births o
Teen Pregnancy ·
Communicable
Disease o
Pneumonia o
Influenza o
Chlamydia o
Gonorrhea |
·
Chronic Diseases o
Obesity o
Inactivity o
Tobacco Use o
Nutrition o
Access to
Affordable Healthcare o
Access to
Affordable Medication ·
Infectious/Communicable
Diseases o
Drug Abuse o
Alcohol Abuse o
Adolescent Sexual
Activity o
Immunizations ·
Injuries o
Child Safety
Seat/Seat Belt Usage o
Lead Poisoning o
Substance Abuse
(Alcohol & Drugs) o
Motor Vehicle
Safety ·
Infants &
Children o
Teen Pregnancy o
SIDS o
Birth Defects
(folic acid) o
Access to
Affordable Healthcare |
Addressing
Priorities
The Stanly County Health Department plays an invaluable role
in the protection and improvement of the public’s health in Stanly County. The three core public health functions are
assessment, policy development, and assurance.
These core functions are implemented through collaborative relationships
with public and private entities, elected and non-elected officials,
communities, and residents of Stanly County.
The Stanly County Health Department cannot solely address
all the public health concerns that need attention due to limited staff,
resources, time, funding and in some cases, community influence. As a result,
it is critical that the department focus its direct services on high quality,
effective practices, pursue appropriate modifications in service delivery and
expansion and perhaps most importantly, serve as a catalyst to stimulate
collaborative interventions in the community among various partners. Together, we have collective strength,
wisdom, and resources.
Community partners include (but are not limited to) the
following groups/agencies: Partners in
Health, a Healthy Carolinians task force; Stanly County school system;
Community Care Clinic; Stanly Regional Medical Center; Stanly Community
Christian Ministries; churches; Homes of Hope; Pregnancy Resource Center;
Partnership for Children; fire departments; United Way of Stanly County; law
enforcement; Butterfly House; Department of Social Services; and mental health
services.
One word of caution: Like the State as a whole, Stanly County’s
health data reveals various health disparities among minority populations. These conditions are significantly influenced
by economic and social inequalities of our society. Efforts to address this concern must include
increasing our understanding of racial and ethnic cultures and promoting
economic development and educational opportunities in addition to assuring the
availability and accessibility of health and medical services.
Note: The source
of all data is the North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics unless
otherwise noted.
Community
Focused Priorities
Health
Promotion: Obesity - Adults
Obesity is a health concern for adults and children in
Stanly County. According to the 2007
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey, 63.7% adults
residing in the Piedmont area had a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25. This placed them in the overweight or obese
category. People are considered
overweight if their BMI was 25.0 to 29.9 and obese for BMIs 30.0 or
greater. Not much changed from 2006 and
2005. According to the 2006 and 2005
BRFSS survey results, 65%-69% of Piedmont area adults were overweight or
obese.
The 2007 BRFSS survey results regarding physical activity
showed Piedmont residents who responded participated in physical activity as
shown in the following table:
|
|
%Yes |
%No |
|
Exercise
(overall) |
76.5 |
23.5 |
|
Male |
81.1 |
18.9 |
|
Female |
72.2 |
27.8 |
|
White |
79.9 |
20.1 |
|
African American |
72.0 |
28.0 |
|
Other Minorities |
62.9 |
37.1 |
|
Hispanic |
58.9 |
41.1 |
|
|
%Yes |
%No |
|
Leisure
Time Physical Activity (overall) |
76.5 |
23.5 |
|
Male |
81.1 |
18.9 |
|
Female |
72.2 |
27.8 |
|
White |
79.9 |
20.1 |
|
African American |
72.0 |
28.0 |
|
Other Minorities |
62.9 |
37.1 |
|
Hispanic |
58.9 |
41.1 |
|
|
%Yes |
%No |
|
Moderate
Physical Activity (overall) |
44.6 |
55.4 |
|
Male |
46.5 |
53.5 |
|
Female |
42.7 |
57.3 |
|
White |
47.4 |
52.6 |
|
African American |
39.8 |
60.2 |
|
Other Minorities |
34.7 |
65.3 |
|
Hispanic |
29.2 |
70.8 |
|
|
%Yes |
%No |
|
Vigorous
Physical Activity (overall) |
23.9 |
76.1 |
|
Male |
27.8 |
72.2 |
|
Female |
20.3 |
79.7 |
|
White |
25.3 |
74.7 |
|
African American |
21.0 |
79.0 |
|
Other Minorities |
20.4 |
79.6 |
|
Hispanic |
17.1 |
82.9 |
Definitions:
Exercise
– activities such as running, calisthenics, gardening, or walking for exercise
outside one’s regular job
Leisure
Time Activity – any level of physical activity or exercise reported
Moderate
Physical Activity – reported moderate physical activity for 30 minutes of more
per day, five or more days a week or respondents who reported doing vigorous
physical activity 20 or more minutes a day three or more days a week.
Vigorous
Physical Activity –respondents who reported doing vigorous physical activity 20
or more minutes a day, three or more days a week
When asked to respond to the following BRFSS survey
question – “Do you believe you would increase your physical activity if your
community had more accessible sidewalks or trails for walking or bicycling?”
respondents answered 59.4% - yes and 40.6% - no. Women were more inclined to respond to that
question with yes than men – 62.6% versus 56.0%.
Piedmont respondents to the 2007 BRFSS survey were
questioned about their eating habits.
The questions and their responses were as follows:
1. How many days per week do you usually eat a main meal
that is prepared at home?
|
|
1-3 Days/% |
4-5 Days/% |
7 Days/% |
None |
|
North
Carolina |
16.6 |
35.0 |
46.6 |
1.9 |
|
Piedmont
(overall) |
17.0 |
36.7 |
43.9 |
2.3 |
|
Male |
19.0 |
36.6 |
41.7 |
2.7 |
|
Female |
15.2 |
36.9 |
45.9 |
2.0 |
|
White |
16.4 |
41.7 |
39.7 |
2.3 |
|
African
American |
26.8 |
29.3 |
42.0 |
1.9 |
|
Other
Minorities |
5.9 |
17.1 |
73.9 |
3.1 |
|
Hispanics |
2.2 |
15.4 |
80.2 |
2.3 |
2. Do you believe
that you would eat healthy foods and beverages more often if they were more available
in places you eat out?
|
|
Yes% |
No% |
|
North
Carolina |
71.8 |
28.2 |
|
Piedmont
(overall) |
72.3 |
27.7 |
|
Male |
69.8 |
30.2 |
|
Female |
74.6 |
25.4 |
|
White |
70.3 |
29.7 |
|
African
American |
73.5 |
26.5 |
|
Other
Minorities |
83.5 |
16.5 |
|
Hispanics |
85.3 |
14.7 |
3. Are you consuming smaller amounts of foods and beverages
to reach or maintain a healthier weight?
|
|
Yes% |
No% |
|
North Carolina |
60.8 |
39.2 |
|
Piedmont (overall) |
60.9 |
39.1 |
|
Male |
54.8 |
45.2 |
|
Female |
66.5 |
33.5 |
|
White |
61.9 |
38.1 |
|
African American |
65.0 |
35.0 |
|
Other Minorities |
47.3 |
52.7 |
|
Hispanics |
43.8 |
56.2 |
Health
Promotion: Obesity – Children
NC-NPASS data provides a snapshot of the seriousness of
obesity in children, ages 2-18. NC-NPASS
data is limited to children seen in North Carolina Public Health WIC and Child
Health clinics and some School Health clinics.
The following tables highlight the extent of obesity in Stanly County
children:
|
|
Under Weight |
Normal |
At-Risk |
Over Weight |
Total |
|
|
<5th Percentile |
>=5th to<85th
Percentile |
>=85th to <95th
Percentile |
>=95th Percentile |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2-4
Years Old |
7.8% |
69.9% |
11.9% |
10.4% |
579 |
|
5-11
Years Old |
7.9% |
65.8% |
5.3% |
21.8% |
38 |
|
12-18
Years Old |
0.0% |
33.3% |
25.0% |
41.7% |
12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2-4
Years Old |
7.8% |
73.0% |
10.8% |
8.3% |
564 |
|
5-11
Years Old |
8.3% |
62.5% |
12.5% |
16.7% |
24 |
|
12-18
Years Old |
0.0% |
27.3% |
9.1% |
63.6% |
11 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2-4
Years Old |
5.8% |
68.6% |
11.8% |
13.8% |
608 |
|
5-11
Years Old |
5.0% |
35.0% |
25.0% |
35.0% |
20 |
|
12-18
Years Old |
9.1% |
54.5% |
18.2% |
18.2% |
11 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2-4
Years Old |
4.5% |
70.9% |
13.5% |
11.1% |
533 |
|
5-11
Years Old |
8.3% |
70.8% |
4.2% |
16.7% |
24 |
|
12-18
Years Old |
5.3% |
15.8% |
31.6% |
47.4% |
19 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2-4
Years Old |
3.6% |
69.8% |
13.0% |
13.6% |
494 |
|
5-11
Years Old |
0.0% |
50.0% |
6.3% |
43.8% |
32 |
|
12-18
Years Old |
0.0% |
23.1% |
15.4% |
61.5% |
13 |
Conclusion:
Obesity
Obesity was listed as fourth as a serious concern on the
community respondents’ surveys and second on the leaders’ surveys. It is clear from responses to the BRFSS
survey & NC-NPASS data, that obesity is a serious health issue. Causes of obesity include lack of exercise
and unhealthy eating. The BRFSS survey
shows that almost 20% Piedmont area adult respondents eat meals prepared
outside the home every week. Less than
3% never eat meals prepared outside the home.
So, 97% of the respondents eat meals prepared outside the home. What implication does this have?
Food portions served at eating establishments are usually
now larger than they have been in the past.
In fact, portion sizes have doubled in many eating establishments. Also, contributing to high caloric food
content are special sauces, ingredients, and cooking styles. Couple this with
lack of meaningful physical activity and the result is increases in body
weights.
According to information posted on the Department of
Health & Human Services National Institutes of Health the National Heart,
Lung, and Blood Institute website, “Obesity and overweight substantially increase
the risk of morbidity from hypertension; dyslipidemia; type 2 diabetes;
coronary heart disease; stroke; gallbladder disease; osteoarthritis; sleep
apnea and respiratory problems; and endometrial, breast, prostate, and colon
cancers. Higher body weights are also associated with increases in all-cause
mortality.”
According
to information posted on the United States Department of Agriculture website,
“being physically active is one of the best ways to keep you healthy. It helps
you to
-feel great
-improve your fitness level and become more
flexible, have stronger bones
and
muscles, and increased endurance
-burn more calories to aid with weight loss or
maintenance.
It
can, also, reduce your risk for many chronic diseases including: heart disease,
high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, arthritis, depression, overweight
and obesity.”
What
is Stanly County doing to address the issue of obesity?
The seriousness of obesity as a health issue has
motivated several community groups and agencies to work together to begin
addressing this health concern. The
Stanly County Health Department, Cooperative Extension and Stanly County YMCA
are collaborating to offer the community an opportunity to participate in the
program, Eat Smart, Move More, & Weigh Less. The plan is to offer this program twice a
year in 2009. Schools are stressing
healthier eating practices, including limiting snack selections to healthy
choices. All fourth graders in the
Stanly County School system participate in Passport to Fitness, a health
promotion program offered by Stanly Regional Medical Center. Its goal is to increase children’s physical
activity levels and their nutrition knowledge.
Healthy FUNdamentals, a healthy lifestyle promotion program for
preschoolers and their families, is funded by Stanly County Partnership for
Children and operated by Stanly Regional Medical Center. County municipalities are constructing safe
walking areas. Two billboards sponsored
by Partners in Health will advocate “Be Active” message. They will be placed in Albemarle and
Badin. A nutrition table top trivia game
developed by Karen Brown, former member of Partners in Health, is in the
process of being printed. This game will
be placed on food establishment tables in Stanly County, so families can learn
more about healthy eating choices.
Health
Promotion: Adolescent Pregnancy/Sexually
Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
The number of adolescents becoming pregnant has been
trending downward with some exceptions.
However, there are still far too many unintended adolescent pregnancies.
Research shows that abstinence only programs are not as effective as programs
that incorporate contraceptive education with abstinence message. Stanly County Schools have adopted an abstinence
only policy regarding sex education. Stanly County School policy No. 3196
states, “…..this program (Framework for Healthful Living) will include
instruction on the benefits of sexual abstinence until marriage and the prevention of sexually
transmitted diseases.”
An unintended consequence of sexual activity
is the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The incidence of STDs being reported in
adolescents had been increasing until 2007.
In 2007, there was a decrease of reported STDs in adolescents.
The following charts (pregnancy &
sexually transmitted diseases) visually illustrate the results of adolescent
sexual activity. The adolescent
pregnancy charts show total numbers as well as rates. The adolescent STD chart
shows total numbers collected by the Stanly County Health Department.
_files/image004.gif)
|
|
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
|
White 10--14 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
|
Minority 10-14 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
White 15-19 |
104 |
92 |
101 |
97 |
96 |
84 |
84 |
97 |
92 |
94 |
|
Minority 15-19 |
43 |
36 |
49 |
28 |
34 |
31 |
28 |
34 |
35 |
35 |
_files/image005.gif)
Note: SC - Stanly County NC - North Carolina
|
|
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
|
SC
White 15-17 |
43.0 |
35.2 |
27.3 |
38.7 |
36.0 |
32.4 |
31.5 |
25.4 |
21.5 |
32.9 |
|
NC
White 15-17 |
41.8 |
38.2 |
35.5 |
32.0 |
30.8 |
28.2 |
28.0 |
27.5 |
28.1 |
27.7 |
|
SC
Minority 15-17 |
119.8 |