Localities Share Burden Regarding Health: Report Illustrates Area Needs Are Not Limited to Geographic Borders
By Tammie Smith, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Va.
Dec. 29—-
Richmond, according to a report on the region’s health and social services needs, has the highest rate of births to unwed mothers and the highest infant-mortality rate among eight localities.
No surprises there.
But the report, which also examines needs in Charles City, Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, New Kent and Powhatan counties, suggests that those communities have work to do, too.
For instance:
–Charles City has the highest rate of people without health insurance, and of those who report being unable to receive dental care when needed. –Henrico has the highest high school dropout rate and the highest juvenile violent-crime rate. –Charles City and Hanover have the highest percentage of female residents 40 and older who report not getting a mammogram within the past two years.
The needs assessment by the Central Virginia Health Planning Agency overall shows behavioral or mental-health care, dental care and services for older people as among the region’s greatest human services needs.
“There is no one locality that is not affected” by these issues, said Elizabeth B. Farrell, assistant director of the planning agency.
“If you address something that affects all localities, ultimately you will improve the overall health status in Planning District 15,” she said.
The report analyzes data from a number of sources. A telephone survey was done from late 2005 to early 2006 of 100 households in Charles City, Goochland, Hanover, New Kent and Powhatan counties; and 200 households each in Richmond, Henrico and Chesterfield.
In addition, organizations that provide services in the region were asked to fill out an online survey in August. Interviews were conducted in the spring with 40 people identified as “key informants” because they are decision-makers in their communities. Hospital discharge information, demographic data, and health statistics were collected from other sources.
Some of the data were analyzed down to ZIP code level, providing information on how social and health needs vary within localities and often cross city and county lines.
“A lot of the areas of Richmond also spill over into Henrico or Chesterfield,” said Jeffrey S. Cribbs Sr., executive director of the Richmond Memorial Health Foundation. “Poverty and at-risk factors are blind to some of the geography that we tend to use.”
In Goochland, for instance, said Cribbs, there is a segment very well off. “There are those that are very, very well-prepared to deal with life’s challenges. Then there are those who are not.”
The foundation contributed $25,000 toward the cost of the report. Other funds came from the local governments in the planning district, Farrell said.
The report makes a number of recommendations, including targeting services to Richmond and Charles City because they have the most needs. Programs that focus on eliminating racial health disparities, helping young mothers and reducing chronic illness among people 45 to 64 are among the recommendations.
Farrell said the report provides data for services planning and can be used by local groups seeking grants for programs.
Contact staff writer Tammie Smith at TLsmith@timesdispatch.com or (804) 649-6572.
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