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Show Utah fs Health: An Annual Review Section II: Data Gretchen Ratzlaff, Senior Associate Editor Rebecca Jensen Maw, Senior Associate Editor The Data Section of Utah's Health: An Annual Review contains data in a number of different areas, each of which contributes to an understanding of health and health care in Utah. The data are gathered from a variety of state and national sources in an effort to provide the reader with data on diverse health topics that are important to the health and well being of the citizens of Utah. When appropriate and attainable, state level data are compared with national data to assess Utah's position on a national level, and often with surrounding states data to show Utah's position among Western states. Sources are provided at the bottom of each page to help those who are interested to pursue more extensive research on the topic. As did last year's issue, this year's Data Section includes seven subsections that group related topics. New to this issue is an eighth subsection titled "Utah's Health Districts" that provides a needed snapshot of Utah's pertinent health issues in each local health department area. The first subsection is "Population," which describes population characteristics such as birth, death, migration, age, race, and ethnicity by district and county. Utah has a rapidly growing and young population that creates'unique challenges for leaders and health providers who are responsible for addressing the health needs of allUtahans. The second subsection addresses various "Socioeconomic Indicators" that influence the health ot Utah s citizens. Topics in this subsection include education, income, and cost of living. Utah's "General Health Status," the third subsection, provides general indicators relative to Utah's health. Topics include mortality, life expectancy, health care expenditures, and hospital discharge data. The fourth subsection covers the topic of "Chronic Diseases" in Utah. The inclusion of chronic diseases is imperative to the study of public health since these diseases affect the lives of so many Americans and Utahns alike. Chronic diseases such as cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, and cancers are the primary causes of mortality in Utah and the United States. "Infectious Diseases" is the fifth subsection. Although no longer as prominent in terms of mortality as are chronic diseases, infectious diseases nevertheless seriously affect our lives. They are crucial to health professionals for understanding how to prevent infections. AIDS, hepatitis, and food borne diseases are a few topics included in this section. The important topic of "Women and Children's Health" is addressed in subsection six. With Utah having the highest birth and fertility rates in the nation, it is not surprising that women and children's health issues are important in our state. This subsection covers topics such as infant mortality, low birth weight, overweight and obese children, and child abuse and neglect. The seventh subsection covers the topic of "Behavioral Influences" on health. Utah enjoys a very low smoking prevalence but has other problematic lifestyles that contribute greatly to the health of its citizens. Genetics, behavior, and lifestyle all contribute to a person's health. The things that people do (or don't do) each day such as exercising or using tobacco impact their health throughout their lives. The new subsection, "Utah's Health Districts" is the eighth and final subsection. In this subsection, each of the twelve health districts in Utah is examined to suggest their top health issues. As the reader will notice, there is some commonality among districts as well as some uniqueness. Utah's Health: An Annual Review Volume DC 61 |