A new study on the health of America’s counties puts Santa Clara
County fourth in California’s 50 counties.
By Anna Tong of the Sacramento Bee with contributions from Dispatch staff
A new study on the health of America’s counties puts Santa Clara County fourth in California’s 50 counties.
Nearby San Benito County ranked second in the state, while Marin County ranked first, and Del Norte County next to the Oregon border ranked last in health outcomes.
The index culled federal data, measuring each county’s health by the length and quality of its residents’ lives. The report also ranks health factors using benchmarks such as access to doctors, diet and smoking habits, and income.
Detailed county-by-county snapshots was released today at www.countyhealth rankings.org.
“County Health Rankings” is a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin, and is modeled after America’s Health Rankings, a report that has graded states’ health for the past 20 years. In 2009, California ranked 23rd among the 50 states.
“County Health Rankings” will give local jurisdictions guidance for what areas they should be targeting, said Bridget Booske, a senior scientist at the University of Wisconsin’s Population Health Institute.
For example, Santa Clara County ranks second in the state at mortality – minimizing the premature death rate, that is – and first at health behaviors, which include low rates of smoking, obesity, automobile accidents and sexually transmitted diseases, according to the report. However, the county ranked 19th in morbidity – which includes factors such as percentage of babies born with low birth rates and people in poor or fair health – and 34th in environment – which include higher than normal air pollution.
“These factors will help communities understand what is making them healthier or less healthy than, say, their neighboring counties,” Booske said. “There is more to health than health care. It depends on a number of factors, ranging from quality of health care to people’s behaviors, to education and jobs.”
The University of Wisconsin has been putting out county health rankings for Wisconsin since 2003, and the results have prompted lower-ranked counties to take action, Booske said.
“In many studies of health outcomes, simple wealth seems to be one of the most important factors,” said Stephen McCurdy, a professor at the UC Davis department of public health sciences. “Wealth equals health.”
A notable exception to this is not that far away, as San Benito County edged out Santa Clara County in the health rankings despite a lower median income, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. While Santa Clara County residents averaged a per capita income of $32,795, San Benito County residents had a per capita income of $20,932 – 36 percent lower.
Nonetheless, Santa Clara County officials were pleased with the results.
“Health is far more than what happens inside the doctor’s office, and this report sheds light on what it takes to make a healthy community,” Ken Yeager, president of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, said in a press release. “Santa Clara County’s high ranking should serve as an inspiration for government and community partners to come together to do even better.”
Top 10 counties in health outcomes
1. Marin
2. San Benito
3. Colusa
4. Santa Clara
5. San Mateo
6. Placer
7. Orange
8. Santa Cruz
9. Sonoma
10. El Dorado
Top 10 counties in health factors
1. Marin
2. Placer
3. Santa Clara
4. San Mateo
5. Nevada
6. El Dorado
7. San Luis Obispo
8. Santa Cruz
9. Orange
10. Napa
