Brett Nebeker

Contra Costa County

     I interviewed Wendel Brunner who is the Director of Public Health for the Contra Costa County.

1. Health Inequities

       In Contra Costa County, life expectancy in low-poverty areas was 81.4 years while life expectancy in high-poverty areas was 74.9. African Americans in Contra Costa County had an even shorter life expectancy at 73.1 years. Someone born in a high-education area could expect a life expectancy of seven more years than one born in a low-education area.

2. Fetal and Infant Death

       On average, there are around 77 fetal deaths and 58 infant deaths each year in Contra Costa County. One of the main causes for fetal and infant deaths is health inequities. Often these deaths occur not because women are not able to stay healthy during the nine months of pregnancy, but before they become pregnant.

3. Teen Pregnancy

       There are, on average, 886 births to women ages 15-19 each year in Contra Costa County. However, this rate is slightly lower than California's teen pregnancy rate. Infants born to teenagers are more likely to suffer from health problems and be born pre-maturely. These infants are also more likely to do poorly in school or even drop out. In order to prevent teen pregnancy, the county has made more awareness programs for abstinence.

4. Diabetes

       Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in Contra Costa County, accounting for 2.9% of all deaths. However, more people develop diabetes than those who die from it, and those who develop diabetes are affected by it for their whole lives. In the Bay Area, more males develop diabetes than woman by around 13,000 people. One can prevent diabetes by living a healthier lifestyle.

5. Obesity

       Approximately 56.2% of Contra Costa County adults are either obese or overweight. This number is less than the percentage in all of California but higher than the percentage in the Bay Area. The percent of obese adults in the US has more than doubled in the last 30 years. In the Bay Area, low-income adults and minorities are more likely to be obese.