St. George is not my hometown but I visit there quite often, and so I chose to learn about health in the Southwest region of Utah, which includes St. George. I had the opportunity to contact and speak to David Heaton, the Public Information Officer at Southwest Utah Public Health Department. My approach was very non-specific; we simply discussed issues and trends in public health that had been recent to the area and I asked him about preventative measures and promotion toward these issues. The top issues we discussed were: low vaccination rates, obesity, nutrition, tobacco use, and mother/infant health. We also discussed the impact that National and State governments had on health in the community.
1. Low Vaccination Rates
When asked what the most prevalent issues or trends were in Southwest Utah, Mr. Heaton went straight to discussing low vaccination
rates. The problem is not in cost of vaccinations; the problem lies in a belief system. People are so suspicious of vaccinations, that parents believe they are protecting their children by not taking them to get vaccinated. They believe they are harmful and unnecessary. The department has seen an increasing spreading of pertussis and whopping cough; while they worry about measles and flu. The region makes advances to the public through marketing, and publishing articles in magazines, telling the public that they are protective and completely safe. Most doctors and pediatricians are siding with the health department in this issue.
2. Obesity
Obesity is on the rise here in the United States. While Utah (specifically Southern Utah) has lower rates of obesity than most of the country, there is still concern. Mr. Heaton talked about their worry and focus on obesity because of the affect it has on diabetes and heart disease. Statistical maps of the United States show that almost the same states with excessive obesity have the highest rates of heart disease and diabetes. Obesity is not only the culprit in causing these two diseases; it is the cause of multiple other chronic diseases including stroke and cancer. Because the department in Southwest Utah is one of the lowest funded in the nation, they are not able to spend excessive amounts on the issue. They have, however, joined multiple coalitions to increase the number of walking trails and encourage outdoor activity. Seeing Utah has a higher concentration of national parks than any other place in the nation, there is hardly a better place to be active and outside.
3. Nutrition
One of the largest problems, according to Mr. Heaton, is the lack of nutritional foods people are getting in their diets, specifically fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables contain essential vitamins and minerals that our bodies need to be healthy. Something Mr. Heaton and I discussed was the resistance to government and local guidelines for eating; people in this region preferred to come up with their own ways of solving problems. The biggest solution trending among the community is a company called Grass Roots, a co-company to Bountiful Baskets. They ship produce in from Arizona once a week, and people can buy fruits/vegetables in bulk for much cheaper than at the local grocery store. It is effective because people don't have a choice in what they get, there is always something new or different; people are becoming more open to fresh foods. The health department is completely behind their efforts.
While the health department is backing up local ideas and demands, they are also being acted upon by the federal government. Recent changes in school lunches have implemented more nutritious foods into the average child's diet. This is not something the health department locally has control of, but Mr. Heaton said they support the movement.
4. Tobacco Use
Tobacco companies spend extreme amounts of money on advertisements in Utah, simply because they want a higher consumption rate. Utah is one of the lowest states for tobacco use, but because of the influence of companies on children, specifically, it is a very valid issue in Utah right now. Mr. Heaton said that they are sending Health promotion specialists and educators to schools to educate and encourage youth not to smoke. He told me that if kids hold off on cigarettes until after the age of 19, the chances are them smoking are very low. Other groups the department education system targets are those in rural communities; these people are much more likely to smoke than those in urbanized places. The education efforts and programs have been proven to be effective so far and they hope to continue in declining tobacco usage.
5. Mother/Infant Care
Mr. Heaton and I briefly discussed mothers during pregnancy and their infants. While infant mortality is not an intrusive problem for the department right now, they are still making it a point to educate the public on maternity health. Breastfeeding, for example, is especially emphasized, and this is due to the studies which have been done on the benefits of breastfeeding. During the first six months of development, a child being fed breast-milk will be much healthier than one who is not. The department also organizes and stands behind programs that provide support for young mothers; there are available programs which arrange for pregnant women to meet with those who have already had babies and counsel with them. Health in pregnancy is extremely important, and I completely agree with their use of funds and efforts to promote health among both mothers and their babies.
The department also takes advantage of the federal program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and provides contact available and resources to those who qualify.
Overall, Southwest Utah is considerably healthy. Air pollution is minimal, and the environment is good. Poverty and homelessness rates are also low. Most of the problems in this particular region are caused by people's own choices, and not environmental problems, but overall the department does a great job in educating and promoting better health for their region, especially given their funding. I learned a lot from Mr. Heaton, and actually would be interested in a position similar to his. I also concluded that Southwest Utah continues, for me, to be a great place to visit and would also be a very healthy place to live.
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