Rebecca Newman: Douglas County, Nebraska

            For this assignment, I decided to contact the Douglas County Health Department in Omaha, Nebraska where I resided for a three year time period. My phone call was directed to Mary Balluss, the Chief of Community Health and Nutrition. She informed me of five current public health trends Douglas County is focusing on which include: infant mortality, obesity, asthma, child lead poisoning, and sexually transmitted disease.

            1. Infant Mortality –The leading causes of death among infants are birth defects, pre-term delivery, low birth weight, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and maternal complications during pregnancy. Douglas County uses the Healthy People 2020 national health target for infant mortality as their own goal, making it 6 deaths per 1,000 live births for infants within their first year of life. Over the past six years their highest infant mortality rate was 7.6. During the year 2011, Douglas County succeeded their goal with 5.3 deaths per 1,000 live births. Overall, Douglas County’s infant mortality rates have shown steady decrease over time.

            2. Obesity – A Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or greater is considered obese. During the year 2011, 29.3 percent of the county’s population was considered obese. Data shows that low income, the male gender, ages between 40-64, and the black, non-Hispanic race have shown highest percent of obesity in the county. Douglas County is concerned about this trend because overweight and obese adults are an indicator of overall health in the community. Obesity in Douglas County has and continues to increase in percent each year making it a main concern.

            3. Asthma – Douglas County considers asthma to be a significant public health burden because it can limit the quality of a person’s life. Daily breathing treatments are available to prevent episodes that allow people to live active lives.  The percent of adults who currently have asthma in Douglas County is 8.9 percent in comparison to 7.5 percent of adult’s nation wide. Asthma is more common in those with a low income, of the female gender, ages between 40-64, and black, non-Hispanics in the county. The percent of adults with asthma in Douglas County has slightly increased over the years and continues to do so.

            4. Lead Poisoning in Children -- Houses built prior to 1950 may contain hazardous material such as lead based paint. While speaking with Mary, she informed me that Nebraska has on of the highest rates of lead poisoning in children. The Douglas Health Department is developing many precaution and resources for lead poisoning in children, because those younger than seven are most susceptible. The Health Department suggests that children under the age of seven get their blood tested yearly. The Health Department has multiple services and links available on their website for residents concerned about lead exposure.

            5. Sexually Transmitted Disease – Sexually Transmitted Diseases are a major public health concern but go unrecognized by the public, policymakers, and healthcare professionals. Douglas County’s data shows the trends of four sexually transmitted diseases, which are, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and herpes.  Over the past fifteen years the number of chlamydia cases have increased, the number of gonorrhea and syphilis cases have stayed the same, and the number of herpes cases have decreased. The majority of people with sexually transmitted diseases are between the ages of fifteen and twenty-four. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services provides many resources and information related to Sexually Transmitted Diseases through out the state.