Valley low in County Health Rankings
VALLEY — Douglas County ranks healthiest in Colorado and Costilla County least healthiest, according to the ninth annual County Health Rankings, released this week by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute (UWPHI). The rankings are available at www.countyhealthrankings.org.
According to the 2018 Rankings, the five healthiest counties in Colorado, starting with most healthy, are Douglas County, followed by Boulder County, Broomfield County, Eagle County, and San Miguel County. The five counties in the poorest health, starting with least healthy, are Costilla County, Huerfano County, Saguache County, Otero County, and Crowley County.
San Luis Valley county rankings out of 58 counties (six counties were not ranked including Mineral County), according to the rankings, were: Alamosa County, 51; Conejos County, 50; Costilla County, 58; Rio Grande County, 47; and Saguache County, 56.
See separate information. Not all of the categories are listed. See the web site listed above for complete information.
The rankings compare counties within states,indicating that where people live influences how well and how long they live. The data indicate that good health is influenced by many factors beyond medical care including housing, education, and jobs. This year’s new Rankings State Reports show gaps in health not only by place, but also by race and ethnicity.
The new Rankings State Reports call attention to key drivers of health such as children in poverty.The Colorado State Report reveals that in Colorado, 13 percent of children live in poverty, compared to the U.S. rate of 20 percent.
“Disparities in opportunity – especially in childhood – lead to disparities in health, and this is a concern for every Colorado county, regardless of rank.” said Yvonne Long, president of the Colorado Association of Local Public Health Officials and executive director of Garfield County Public Health. “With support from the state and their neighboring communities, counties can determine for themselves how to address this and other health challenges. That’s why committed residents across the state are coming together this year with their local public health agencies, schools, hospitals, and leaders in business and government to assess their community’s health and plan for improving it. The best way Coloradans can help is to contact their local public health agency and get involved.”
“We can’t be a healthy, thriving nation if we continue to leave entire communities and populations behind,” added Richard Besser, MD, RWJF president and CEO. “Every community should use their County Health Rankings data, work together, and find solutions so that all babies, kids, and adults – regardless of their race or ethnicity – have the same opportunities to be healthy.”
“The time is now to address long-standing challenges like child poverty,” said Julie Willems Van Dijk, PhD, RN, director of County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. “This year’s rankings are a call to action to see how these persistent health gaps play out locally, take an honest look at their root causes, and work together to give everyone a fair shot at a healthier life.”
Colorado’s local public health agencies conduct community health assessments and develop improvement plans at least every five years, and 2018 is an assessment year for most counties.
Conejos County
Rank 50 of 58
Conejos State
Adults reporting poor or fair health 23% 14%
Poor physical health days in last month 4.4 3.4
Poor mental health days in last month 4.1 3.6
Low birth weight 10% 9%
Adult smoking 17% 16%
Adult obesity 24% 21%
Physical inactivity (percentage of adults 20 and older reporting no leisure time physical activity) 21% 15%
Access to exercise opportunities 22% 91%
Excessive drinking reported 15% 21%
Alcohol-impaired driving deaths 0% 35%
Teen births (births per 1,000 female population ages 15-19)
39 24
Uninsured 11% 9%
Primary care physicians ratio to population 2,030:1 1,240:1
Dentists ratio to population 8,130:1 1,290:1
Mental health providers ratio to population 8,130:1 330:1
High school graduation 85% 77%
Some college 58% 71%
Unemployment 4.9% 3.3%
Children in poverty 30% 13%
Children in single-parent households 20% 28%
Violent crime per 100,000 44 309
Injury deaths per 100,000 102 74
Severe housing problems (Percentage of households with at least 1 of 4 housing problems: overcrowding, high housing costs, or lack of kitchen or plumbing facilities.) 16% 17%
Saguache County
Rank 56 of 58
Saguache State
Poor or fair health 21% 14%
Poor physical health days 4.5 3.4
Poor mental health days 4.2 3.6
Low birth weight 14% 9%
Adult smoking 18% 16%
Adult obesity 22% 21%
Physical inactivity 17% 15%
Access to exercise opportunities 48% 91%
Excessive drinking 14% 21%
Alcohol-impaired driving deaths 27% 35%
Teen births 42 24
Uninsured 20% 9%
Primary care physicians 2,080:1 1,240:1
Dentists 6,390:1 1,290:1
Mental health providers 1,600:1 330:1
High school graduation 95% 77%
Some college 55% 71%
Unemployment 4.9% 3.3%
Children in poverty 39% 13%
Children in single-parent households 21% 28%
Violent crime 211 309
Injury deaths 115 74
Severe housing problems 19% 17%
Rio Grande County
Rank 47 of 58
Rio Grande State
Poor or fair health 17% 14%
Poor physical health days 3.8 3.4
Poor mental health days 3.6 3.6
Low birth weight 10% 9%
Adult smoking 14% 16%
Adult obesity 23% 21%
Physical inactivity 17% 15%
Access to exercise opportunities 78% 91%
Excessive drinking 16% 21%
Alcohol-impaired driving deaths 6% 35%
Teen births 44 24
Uninsured 13% 9%
Primary care physicians 960:1 1,240:1
Dentists 1,910:1 1,290:1
Mental health providers 3,830:1 330:1
High school graduation 78% 77%
Some college 61% 71%
Unemployment 5.1% 3.3%
Children in poverty 28% 13%
Children in single-parent households 24% 28%
Violent crime 153 309
Injury deaths 113 74
Severe housing problems 19% 17%
Alamosa County
Rank 51 of 58
Alamosa County State
Poor or fair health 20% 14%
Poor physical health days 4.1 3.4
Poor mental health days 4.1 3.6
Low birth weight 11% 9%
Adult smoking 17% 16%
Adult obesity 21% 21%
Physical inactivity 17% 15%
Access to exercise opportunities 82% 91%
Excessive drinking 17% 21%
Alcohol-impaired driving deaths 22% 35%
Teen births 29 24
Uninsured 13% 9%
Primary care physicians 920:1 1,240:1
Dentists 880:1 1,290:1
Mental health providers 70:1 330:1
High school graduation 79% 77%
Some college 64% 71%
Unemployment 4.1% 3.3%
Children in poverty 29% 13%
Children in single-parent households 29% 28%
Violent crime 62 309
Injury deaths 110 74
Severe housing problems 17% 17%
Saguache County
Rank 58 of 58
Saguache State
Poor or fair health 29% 14%
Poor physical health days 4.8 3.4
Poor mental health days 4.4 3.6
Low birth weight 16% 9%
Adult smoking 19% 16%
Adult obesity 22% 21%
Physical inactivity 24% 15%
Access to exercise opportunities 51% 91%
Excessive drinking 12% 21%
Alcohol-impaired driving deaths 10% 35%
Teen births 31 24
Uninsured 16% 9%
Primary care physicians 1,030:1 1,240:1
Dentists 3,720:0 1,290:1
Mental health providers 3,720:1 330:1
High school graduation 95% 77%
Some college 45% 71%
Unemployment 4.9% 3.3%
Children in poverty 43% 13%
Children in single-parent households 36% 28%
Violent crime 156 309
Injury deaths 100 74
Severe housing problems 18% 17%