Analyzing Wake County's Health Status: A Statistical Data Study - Essay Sample

Introduction

Healthcare data statistical trends are vital to healthcare providers in the assessment of the health status of a region. Evidence-based health data help care givers in a community to monitor local trends and compare them with state, national, and even international trends. Such information is useful in planning, allocation of funds, and determination of areas that need research focus. This paper will study the statistical health data of Wake County to assess the health status of the region.

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Study on Demographic Data

Wake County has a population estimate of 1,092,035 people. The total population is composed of 65.76 % Whites, 20.31% African American, 10.3% Hispanic, and 6.68% Asians. The County also has 0.35% American Indian and Alaska Native, and 0.04% Native Hawaiians (Centre for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2018). Wake County is composed of 301,601 middle-aged people, 676,852 adults, and 113,852 older people. The female gender dominates the population with 51.38%, while the males are estimated to be 48.62%. Education levels have a great contribution to the attainment of a stable, healthy nation. The high school graduates contribute to a greater percentage of 92.7 %, while people with a bachelor's degree contribute to 51.8% (CDC, 2018). The majority of people in Wake County are unemployed, composing 51. 86%. The employed population makes approximately 11.09% of the total residents of the County (North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services [NCDHHS], 2020).

Causes of Death in Wake County

The major cause of death in Wake County is the lack of access to treatment. According to the 2007 data from the National Center for Health Statistics, the main causes of death are chronic diseases (Association for Prevention Teaching and Research [APTR], 2020). An increased intake of processed foods in the region is known to increase the vulnerability of people to chronic diseases. Changed eating behaviors result from technological improvements. The ever-growing population has also resulted in a preference for chemical and radiological means of preservation and processing of foods. Heart disease, cancer, and cerebrovascular disease are but some of the leading causes of death in Wake County.

Heart-related diseases are also among the leading causes of death in Wake County. Common heart conditions in the region include blood vessel illnesses such as coronary artery disease, heart rhythm problems, and inborn heart defects. Heart diseases have contributed to approximately 1091 deaths (APTR, 2020). Improper lifestyles and failure to seek regular expert consultation is also a contributing factor. Cancer contributes to an approximated 1327 number of death of people in Wake County (APTR, 2020).

The cerebrovascular disease, which is also known as stroke is another chronic disease that results in approximately 383 deaths in Wake County. Stroke normally happens when the blood vessels in the brain are not able to withstand the pressure. The vessels burst, causing interruption on blood supply in different parts of the brain.

The Leading Causes of Admissions to the Local Emergency Departments

The leading causes of visits in the emergency departments are acute bronchitis, pneumonia, and Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). Acute bronchitis necessitates the immediate visit to the health facility due to the existence of the disease and having its attack on the patient suddenly. The bronchial tubes that used to ferry air within the respiratory system are inflamed (Healthy People, 2020). The inflation causes frequent coughing though the condition might last at approximately 3-10 days. The infection can cause difficulty in breathing, requiring immediate medical attention.

Pneumonia is a lung disease normally characterized by the inflation of airspaces in the lungs. Either fungal or bacterial infection causes the condition. The common symptoms include persistent coughing and difficulty in breathing. These symptoms are life-threatening and require the patient to access emergency medical attention.

Urinary Tract Infection refers to an infection in any of the components within the urinary system, which includes the urethra, kidneys and bladder. Symptoms of this health condition occur almost immediately. They include pain when passing urine and itching. These symptoms necessitate emergency medical attention.

The Teen Pregnancy Within Wake County

Teen pregnancy is a common phenomenon in Wake County. Early pregnancies among teens directly affect budgeting due to the need for an allocation of funds for maternal care. Teen pregnancies also lead to early families and interference with the social life of the teenager. The number of pregnancies among 15-19 years old girls is at 576. The teen pregnancy in Wake County rate per 1,000 15-19 years old is 15.4. The teen pregnancy rate is 28.9 in African Americans, 40.2 among Hispanic, and 4.7 in Whites (CDC, 2018).

Childhood Immunization Rates in Wake County

Infant Immunization is a compulsory process that does not require parents' consent. The immunity of newborn babies requires boosting to prevent diseases. Wake County has a National Immunization Survey (NIS) and National Immunization Survey-Teen (NIS-Teen), which help in the monitoring and survey of immunization processes within the County. In each year, the Local Health Department (LHD) carries out an assessment of the immunization rate within the County (Healthy Americans, 2020). The assessment aims at ensuring that all the children within the County are immunized. The county immunization rate is at 70% while the LHD estimates it at 86%.

Mental Health Services in Wake County

Mental health services refer to the medical attention offered to patients who have mental disorders. According to the Statewide Mental Health Agency data (SMHA), the females using and visiting health facilities with mental disorders are 50.7% while the males constitute 49.3%. In some health facilities, there is a report on the readmission of patients with mental disorders due to the condition reoccurrence or worsening once the patient is out of hospital (Healthy People, 2020). The cases of readmission of the patients are at 6.3% within 30 days, and 13.9% within 180 days.

Substance Abuse in Wake County

Substance abuse refers to the use of any substance without the correct prescription, intending to change the normal functioning of the body system. Abuse of drugs can be achieved orally, through inhalation, or injection. The use of illicit drugs in Wake County is estimated to be 14%, marijuana at 10.1%, and prescription-type pain relievers at 4.3% (County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2020).

Obesity in Wake County

Obesity refers to a condition where an adult has a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or above. Health reports show that there is a decline in obesity in Wake County, from 27% in 2005 to 25% currently. (Director, 2020). Observance of proper healthy living and regular body exercises controls the condition.

Data About the Dental Health of People in Wake County

The Epidemiology Surveys and the school Oral Health Assessments are ways used by the oral sector to measure the oral health of the community (Affairs, 2020). Epidemiology surveys provide analysis of the quantity and types of the type of dental diseases while and the oral health assessments provide an analysis for tooth decay in Wake County (NCDHHS, 2020). The people screened with untreated decay are 11.9%, treated decay is 11.9%, no decay 54.5%, permanent or primary molar 45.9% and those in need of urgent dental care are 2.1%.

The Programs Offered In Wake County Health Department

Health care is important for the proper functioning of a society. Accessibility to quality healthcare positively impacts continuous economics growth resulting from the availability of a healthy workforce (Healthy People, 2020). Public health centers in Wake County offer diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, children clinic and immunization, and dental care for children and pregnant women. Other services include tuberculosis control, prenatal and postnatal care, child-care coordination, Medicaid, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and HIV testing and counselling.

Conclusion

Healthcare statistical data trends play an essential role in analyzing and assessing the health of a community. A healthy population largely contributes to a society's stability and the achievement of economic growth. This paper has given the heath statistical data of Wake County. This information is vital in planning, research, and the overall improvement of the health status of the region.

References

Affairs, P. (2020). N.C. Oral Health: Measuring Oral Health in North Carolina. Retrieved 20 February 2020, from https://www2.ncdhhs.gov/dph/oralhealth/stats/MeasuringOralHealth.htm

Association for Prevention Teaching and Research (2020). Prevention and population health teaching modules. http://www.aptrweb.org/pophealthmodules

Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (2018, August 22). Youth risk behavior surveillance system. http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/yrbs/index.htmCounty Health Rankings & Roadmaps. (2020). Retrieved 20 February 2020, from http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/#app/north-carolina/2012

DHHS: DPH: Healthy North Carolina, 2020: Focus Areas, Objectives, and Evidence-Based Strategies. (2020). Retrieved 20 February 2020, from https://publichealth.nc.gov/hnc2020/objectives.htm

DHHS: DPH: Oral Health: References and Statistics. (2020). Retrieved 20 February 2020, from https://www2.ncdhhs.gov/dph/oralhealth/stats/

Director, S. (2020). N.C. State Center for Health Statistics. Retrieved 20 February 2020, from https://schs.dph.ncdhhs.gov/

Healthy People (2020). Retrieved 20 February 2020, from http://www.healthypeople.gov/

Healthy mericans.org. (2020). Retrieved 20 February 2020, from http://www.rwjf.org/en/library/articles-and-news/2013/09/interactive--prescription-drug abuse.html

N.C. Division of Public Health: Oral Health Section. (2020). Retrieved 20 February 2020, from https://www2.ncdhhs.gov/dph/oralhealth/