Health Inequity
Goal:
Measure
The two measures in this category include the 1) Natality
by race of mother (ratio per 1,000 live births); and 2) Rankings
of health, physical, and access factors that impact health equity (MIHIA.org and County Health Rankings).
Note: Health factors in the County Health Rankings represent what influences the health of a county. We measure four types of health factors: health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic, and physical environment factors. In turn, each of these factors is based on several measures. A fifth set of factors that influence health (genetics and biology) is not included in the Rankings.
Note: Health factors in the County Health Rankings represent what influences the health of a county. We measure four types of health factors: health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic, and physical environment factors. In turn, each of these factors is based on several measures. A fifth set of factors that influence health (genetics and biology) is not included in the Rankings.
Why This Indicator is Important
Current
political discourse focuses on the national challenge to provide equal and
adequate health care to all citizens of the United States. This debate turns on
the fundamental understanding that some groups have little or no access to
health insurance, and thus to adequate health care, and that the lines of
division often coincide with income and race. People living in poverty, and
people of color demonstrate higher tendencies than others toward significant
health problems, including diabetes, asthma, hypertension, and cancer. Data
used throughout the report can be used to demonstrate that safety, health,
economic development, and education work together to have impact on health
equity. Included in this assessment is that by improving these factors health
equity will improve.
Health factors in the County Health Rankings represent what influences the health of a county. We measure four types of health factors: health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic, and physical environment factors. In turn, each of these factors is based on several measures. A fifth set of factors that influence health (genetics and biology) is not included in the Rankings.
They include: Health Behaviors; Alcohol Use; Diet and Exercise; Sexual Activity; Tobacco Use Clinical Care; Access to Care; Quality of Care Social and Economic Factors; Community Safety; Education; Employment; Family and Social Support; Income Physical Environment; Built Environment; and Environmental Quality.
Health outcomes in the County Health Rankings represent how healthy a county is. We measure two types of health outcomes: how long people live (mortality) and how healthy people feel while alive (morbidity).
Health factors in the County Health Rankings represent what influences the health of a county. We measure four types of health factors: health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic, and physical environment factors. In turn, each of these factors is based on several measures. A fifth set of factors that influence health (genetics and biology) is not included in the Rankings.
They include: Health Behaviors; Alcohol Use; Diet and Exercise; Sexual Activity; Tobacco Use Clinical Care; Access to Care; Quality of Care Social and Economic Factors; Community Safety; Education; Employment; Family and Social Support; Income Physical Environment; Built Environment; and Environmental Quality.
Health outcomes in the County Health Rankings represent how healthy a county is. We measure two types of health outcomes: how long people live (mortality) and how healthy people feel while alive (morbidity).
- Mortality: We examine mortality (or death) data to find out how long people live. More specifically, we measure what are known as premature deaths (deaths before age 75).
- Morbidity: Morbidity is the term that refers to how healthy people feel while alive. Specifically, we report on the measures of their health-related quality of life (their overall health, their physical health, their mental health) and we also look at birth outcomes (in this case, babies born with a low birthweight).
- Premature Death
- Health-Related Quality of Life
- Birth Outcomes
How Are We Doing?
- 835 total
live births (9.7 per 1,000) in 2013 (11.4 per 1,000 in 2012 in Michigan).
- 704 (850.2 per 1,000) mothers received prenatal care in the first trimester in 2013 (743.2 per 1,000 in 2012 in Michigan).
- 44 (53.1 per 1,000) mothers were teenagers (ages 15-19) in Midland County in 2013 (79.8 per 1,000 in 2012 in Michigan).
- 60 (71.9 per 1,000) children were born with low birth weight in Midland County (84.5 per per 1,000 in 2012 in Michigan).
- There are two sets of county health rankings for this category (MIHIA and County Health Rankings), which use different criteria and categories:
- According the MIHIA.org rankings of the 83 counties, Midland County ranks in the Top 20 in most of the categories chosen by MIHIA. In Access to Care (3), Employment (5), Income (6), and Alcohol Use (7), Family and Social Support (11), Built Environment (12), Education (12), Unsafe Sex (17), Diet and Exercise (18), and Community Safety (20), Midland County ranks in the Top 20 (out of 83 counties). In the other three categories rated by MIHIA-- Smoking (29), and 35 in both Air Quality and Quality of Care.
- In the second ranking of County Health Factors by County Health Rankings, Midland County also ranks very high, ranking 10th in Health Outcomes (in the subcategories, the County ranks 8th in Mortality and 14th in Morbidity). In Health Factors, Midland County ranks 7th out of 83 counties. In the subcategories, Midland County ranks 11th Health Behaviors, 8th Clinical Care, 6th in Social & Economic Factors, and 37th in Physical Environment.