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Show Utah's Health: An Annual Review Section II: Data Daniel J. Bergantz, Senior Associate Editor, Data 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 the health and health care of 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 feasible, state level data are compared with national data to assess Utah's position on a national level. Sources are provided on each page to help those who are interested to pursue more extensive re-search on the topic. A number of changes have been introduced to this year's Data Section of Utah's Health: An Annual Review. The Data Section has been divided into a number of new subsections in order to group data topics in a more logical and related manner. The first of these subsections is population. The population subsection provides a basis for understanding many of Utah's health issues. Utah has a rapidly growing and young population that creates unique challenges for leaders and health providers who have the responsibility of addressing Utah's health needs. The second subsection addresses various socioeconomic indicators that influence the health of Utah's citizens. Examples of topics in this subsection include education, income, cost of living, and unemployment. Utah's general health status comprises the third data subsection. This subsection provides the reader with general health indicators relative to Utah's health status. Topics include mortality, life expectancy, and hospital discharge data. The fourth data 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 Utahans. Chronic diseases are the number one contributors to mortality in the United States. The fifth data subsection addresses infectious diseases. Although not as critical in terms of mortality, infectious diseases nevertheless seriously affect many lives. They are crucially important to public health professionals, especially in understanding how to prevent individuals from becoming infected by them. The important topic of women's and children's health is addressed in subsection six. With Utah having the highest birth and fertility rates in the nation, it is no wonder that women's and children's health issues are important for the state. This subsection covers topics such as infant mortality, low birth weight, and child abuse and neglect. The seventh and last data subsection covers the topic of behavioral influences on health. While many aspects of one's health relate to genetics, behavior and lifestyle also have far reaching effects. The things that people do (or do not do) each day such as exercising, using tobacco, or using a safety belt momentously affect their health throughout their lives. Utah's Health: An Annual Review Volume VIII 47 |
