| OCR Text |
Show Section 2: Utah's Health Status This section of the Review includes several mortality and morbidity indicators comparing Utah with the United States. Trends are uncovered by collecting and examining data over a period of several years. When relevant, the data are broken down by gender. This makes it possible to target groups that are currently at greater risk and formulate more specific solutions. Mortality indicators are covered first, followed by morbidity indicators. Utah fares well when compared to the United States as a whole for nearly all mortality and morbidity indicators, but there are some notable exceptions. Utah has a higher mortality rate than does the United States for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, and suicide, including adolescent suicide. Utah has mortality rates similar to the United States for pneumonia, influenza and female breast cancer. Self-Perceived Health Status Utah and U.S. health departments conduct health status surveys reported by health districts every five years (Table 24). The first two surveys for the U.S. were conducted in 1984 and 1989; Utah's surveys were administered in 1986, 1991, and 1996. One question in these surveys asked respondents to rate their own health status. Utahns tended to report their health status as "excellent" or "very good," scoring slightly higher than most Americans. In addition, survey results from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System conducted each year from 1993 through 1996 are included here (Table 1). This is a different survey, with different demographics and a smaller sample size; however the same question was asked. In this survey, fewer Utahns self-reported their health as "excellent;" more reported their health as "very good." The percentage of Utahns rating their health status as "fair" or "poor" rose in 1995 and then fell in 1996. The smaller sample size in this survey may account for any slight changes that are found over the years, because the data are more sensitive to random variations. Table 23. Self-Perceived Health Status (Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System) Utah Utah Utah Utah Response 1993 1994 1995 1996 Poor/Fair 12.0 11.4 11.8 11.3 Good 25.6 26.7 26.0 26.1 Very Good 36.5 35.7 34.0 37.4 Excellent 25.9 26.2 28.2 25.2 Table 23. Source: Utah 1994: Utah Department of Health Bureau of health promotion and Risk Prevention, 1993. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 1994,1995,1996. U.S.: National Center for Health Statistics (1998). Health. United States. 1996-1997 (CD) Hyatsville, MD; Public Health Services, p. 181. Table 24. Self-Perceived Health Status Utah (in °, U.S. (in °/ Response 1986 1991 1996 1984 1989 1994 Poor/Fair* 7.8 ~ ~ 10.5 9.1 9.6 Good 18.2 22.6 21.4 23.4 22.2 Very Good 30.8 31.7 30.6 25.8 27.9 - Excellent 43.2 37.9 39.4 40.3 40.7 -- *After 1991, the only updated results from the U.S. were the poor/fair results, since these are the principle results used in policy formation. Table 24. Source: Utah 1986, 1991: Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Records and health Statistics (1992). Utah's 1991 Health Status Survey: Socio-Demographics(Report No.141). Salt Lake City. p.43. U.S. 1984, 1989: National Center for Health Statistics (1991). Health. United States. 1990 (DHHS Publication No. PHS 91-1232). Hyattsville, MD: Public Health Services, p.123. U.S.: National Center for Health Statistics (1998). Health, United States. 1996-1997. (CD) Hyatsville, MD; Public Health Services, .p.181. 68 |
