Tuscarawas County health factors need improvement
The report identified adult smoking and adult obesity rates, which were both higher than the average for Ohio and the U.S, as improvement opportunities in the county.
Recently, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute released the annual County Health Rankings & Roadmaps National Findings Report to influence understanding and action about what shapes health.
This annual CHR&R data release provides a snapshot of the health of nearly every county in the nation and is a call to action for leaders and community members to better understand health in communities and make informed decisions to develop evidence-based programs.
The rankings measure more than 80 health factors such as obesity rates, smoking, unemployment, air and water quality, teen births, income inequality and more.
The report revealed Tuscarawas County is doing better than the average county in Ohio and in the United States for health outcomes such as how long people live and how healthy people feel. The average life expectancy in Tuscarawas County is 75.3 years, and the leading causes of death for Tuscarawas County residents under age 75 from 2019-21 were listed as malignant neoplasms (cancer), diseases of the heart, COVID-19, accidents and diabetes.
The 2024 report also revealed Tuscarawas County is faring worse than the average county in Ohio and in the United States in the category of health factors, which represent things people can improve to live longer and healthier lives. Health factors are indicators of the future health of communities. These health factors include data on health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic factors, and physical environment.
The report identified adult smoking and adult obesity rates, which were both higher than the average for Ohio and the U.S., as improvement opportunities in the county. The need for more primary care physicians also was highlighted by the report because Tuscarawas County averages only one primary care physician per every 2,800 residents, compared to one primary care physician per every 1,330 residents for Ohio as a whole.
“Every community can identify ways to improve health for all, and our county is no different in that respect,” said Katie Seward, MPH, CHES, Tuscarawas County health commissioner. “While we are encouraged to see our county ranked higher than average for health outcomes, we know that work must be accomplished to improve our county’s health factors. Progress toward better health and positive lifestyle change takes time, and we at the Tuscarawas County Health Department are committed to continuing to work with our partners and collaborative coalitions such as Healthy Tusc to drive future improvements.”
Beginning with this year’s report, the CHR&R no longer ranks counties but does show comparisons between counties within Ohio and the U.S.
For more detailed information about how Tuscarawas County fared in the 2024 County Health Rankings & Roadmap Report, visit www.tchdnow.org.
Visit www.countyhealthrankings.org to determine how Tuscarawas County compares to other counties across the nation.