Public Health Trends in Madison County, Kentucky

I talked to Christie Green a contact at the Madison County Health department about what the top five trends were in Madison County. She told me that right now Madison County was experiencing an outbreak of Pertussis. Other health factors she told me included high tobacco use, adult and child obesity, prescription abuse, and distracted driving. Ms. Green said that I would also be able to find out more information about each of these topics on the health department's website.

1. First trend that we discussed was the unexpected outbreak of Pertussis or Whooping Cough. The community is advising all those older than eleven years old it is advised that they get vaccinated and tested for Pertussis. It is also very important for anyone who takes care of infants to be vaccinated because infants can not get vaccinated and are at a higher risk of death if they contract Pertussis. There has been eleven people who have been confirmed as having Pertussis and the health department are trying to stop this outbreak in its tracks. They are doing this through informing the public and through requesting a free vaccine for adults and children that are uninsured.
2. The second major damaging health trend in Madison County is the high tobacco use. This is partly due to Kentucky being a state that still grows tobacco and that there are tobacco farms in Madison County. It is found that the percentage of high school students who use both cigarette tobacco and smokeless tobacco is higher than the national average of high school students using. Some of the steps that Madison County have taken to help prevent tobacco use is through having a cessation class that is offered and by the clean air act which prevents smoking in restaurants and other indoor public places. Many times though it is the parents of the children who smoke who allow their underage children to smoke and use other tobacco products. 
3. Another health trend that is growing in prevalence in Madison County is prescription abuse. In Madison County most high school kids who abuse prescription drugs get them from their parents medicine cabinet or from peers either at school or at parties. The most commonly abused prescription drug is Vicodin. Often time this abuse is because a prescription is not followed according to the doctor and leads to left over pills. It also occurs when parents give their children harder pain killers out of their own prescriptions for minor pain like headaches.
4. Obesity both in adults and children is also a prevalent health trend especially when compared to the nation. Obesity in Madison County is also linked to poor income families who cannot afford to buy healthier foods like fruits and vegetables. This leads to a higher possibility of diabetes and heart disease in Madison County. Even when compared to the neighboring counties Madison County has a higher percentage of adults who are obese. The health department is trying to counteract this obesity through having more advertised physical activities that are available in the community like areas that can be hiked and county run sports teams. Hopefully through advertising for greater physical activity obesity will also decrease. 
5. The last health trend in Madison County is the high number of distracted drivers who in turn cause accidents in the community. Distracted driving is most common among young inexperienced drivers which led to accidents. The main reason for distraction was either through cell phone use or through distraction from passengers in the car. The health department has addressed this issue through a large advertising campaign against distracted driving including lighted sign above the interstate warning against distracted driving. Another measure in place is the requirement of new drivers having to attend a three hour driving class where distracted driving is addressed. 

These are the five main health trends in my hometown of Madison County, Kentucky.

                        Tabetha Ellis