Community Health Assessment

In 2010, the Preble County General Health District, the Preble County Family and Children First Council and the Preble County Mental Health and Recovery Board started a process to take a comprehensive look at adult and student health and wellness throughout the county. The adult portion of the survey has been completed, and the results show there are many positive signs in regard to the health of the community.  There is still work to be done in health screening, chronic disease risk factors and access to healthcare.

 The Adult Community Health Assessment survey was conducted by the Center for Urban and Public Affairs at Wright State University. The questions for the adult survey were based upon the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as health assessments conducted by neighboring counties and priority health needs within the county.

 The 2010 Preble County Community Health Assessment consisted of a telephone survey of 597 Preble County adults with a primary purpose of shaping strategic plans for community health and community mental health. The purpose of the health needs assessment was to assess the prevalence of disease and behavioral risk factors, assess broad community health issues and shape a broader definition of community health, monitor the impact of community health action plans and trends in behavioral modifications and provide a vehicle to discuss ways to improve community health. The questions addressed access to and utilization of health care, the prevalence of certain diseases, lifestyle choices, early detection and immunizations, attitudes and behaviors toward health and prevention and some broader community concerns.

 The following are highlights of the 2010 assessment:

• Preble County residents are optimistic about their health, with the majority (83.5 percent) of  residents saying they have good, very good or excellent health 
• Preble County respondents (16.2 percent) were significantly less likely than respondents across Ohio (20.7 percent) to report having days with physical health limitations over the past month.
• The percentage of Preble County adults who report drinking alcohol in the past month (41.8 percent) is significantly lower than the State and Nation.
• Similarly, Preble County adults (12.8 percent) were significantly less likely than the State (16.0 percent) and Nation (15.8 percent) to report binge drinking.
• Preble County residents (33.3 percent) were less likely than residents across the State (39.6 percent) and Nation (37.5 percent) to indicate that they have high cholesterol (However, this may be due to lack of having their cholesterol checked).
• Preble County respondents were slightly more likely than respondents across the state and nation to have received a flu shot or pneumonia vaccination.

But we still have some work to do....

• The percentage of Preble County women over the age of 40 (71.0 percent) who have had a mammogram is lower than the State (75.8 percent) and Nation (76.0 percent).
• Almost one-third of Preble County adults (32.6 percent) have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, which is significantly higher than the percentage for the Nation (28.6 percent).
• Preble County residents (69.9 percent) were significantly less likely than the State (77.4 percent) and Nation (76.9 percent) to indicate that they have had their cholesterol checked in the past 5 years.
• Preble County women (71.1 percent) were significantly less likely than women across the State - 82.7 percent) and Nation (82.9 percent) to have had a Pap test.
• Preble County respondents over the age of 50 (16.5 percent) were significantly less likely than respondents nationally (21.0 percent) to have had a blood stool test kit in the past 2 years.
• Cost was cited as a prohibitive factor for why respondents did not receive screenings related to eye care, children?s health screenings, and other preventative health screenings.

 
To view results of the Adult Community Health Assessment Click Here

The Youth Community Health Survey was implemented in Preble County Schools. The data has been compiled on issues ranging from sleep and mental health to alcohol, drug use and sexual health.

The Youth Survey is a follow up survey to the Preble County Adult Health Survey. Adult respondents were asked if they believed any of their children under the age of 18 smoked cigarettes, drank alcohol, used drugs, or are sexually active. The majority of respondents (95.2 percent) indicated that they did not believe their children did any of these activities.  Only 3.9 percent of parents believe their children are sexually active, while 2.4 percent believe they smoke cigarettes. 1.5 percent believe their children drink alcohol and less than one-half percent (0.4 percent) believe that their child does drugs.

To view results of the Youth Community Health Assessment Click Here