Kory Cummings, Health Trends

I was able to contact the central Utah health department and speak with Sue Hildebrand (community health services director) about health trends in Millard County.   The five biggest issues affecting public health were listed as Tobacco use, teenage pregnancy, heart disease, inadequate immunizations in children, and preventing the infection of Hanta virus. 

            
Tobacco use is prevalent in Millard County.   The central Utah public health department offers to meet with boy youth and adults to help them quit smoking and chewing tobacco.  They also have counselors available to help people come up with a customized quitting plan. The health department also tries to offer peer support and counseling for the person that is trying to quit tobacco use.  Sadly however, this trend is still increasing among the youth despite the implementation of programs designed to inform people of the risks and danger of tobacco.

            
Another issue that is concerning the public health officials is the prevalence of teenage pregnancies within the county.  Teenage pregnancy can lead to various problems within the community such as, lower education for females, poor living standards for children, and can possibly increase the rate of substance abuse.  In order to address this problem, central Utah public health offers a family planning program at each of the local county offices within their district.  This is aimed at providing low-cost contraception, and counseling about the benefits and risks of the many different types of contraception available.  STD and HIV testing is available as well.

            
As is common knowledge in this class, heart disease is a large issue facing public health.  There is no difference in Millard County.  Over the past decade, the percentage of overweight adults and teenagers has increased.  With an increase in the overall weight of the population, the overall incidence of heart disease as also increased.  Attempts by the health department to address this trend are aimed at nutritional and exercise education as well as providing guidelines on the type and frequency of physical activity necessary to prevent heart disease.

           
Immunizations are a critical part of a child’s health care.  By following recommended immunization schedules, numerous communicable diseases can be avoided (like Pertussis) as well as long-term adverse health problems.  However because many women do not have health insurance or are less educated on the subject, there has been an increasing trend of low immunization numbers among children in Millard County.  To assist with the cost of the immunizations, the Utah Vaccines for Children (VFC) program is utilized.  This helps provide vaccines for children who do not have insurance, or whose insurance does not cover immunizations. 

            
Although the incidence rate of Hantavirus is still low, the health department is making an effort to educate people about the disease, and hopefully prevent the occurrence of it.  As a matter of fact, whenever people visit the Central Utah Public Health website, they are immediately presented with information regarding the spread, symptoms, and preventions of Hantavirus.  Hantavirus potential is higher in Millard County because of the prevalence of agriculture, leading to a high population of mice (the vector for Hantavirus).  Instructions on how to prevent Hantavirus include, keeping rodents out of your home, cleaning up after mice, and trapping the mice within your home to decrease the risk.