Obesity, diabetes top health concerns

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CONCORD, N.C. -- Adult and childhood obesity, diabetes, dental care, adequate housing and access to healthcare are among the key issues that were identified recently in the Cabarrus Community Needs Assessment 2012.

Every four years, North Carolina Local Health Departments are required to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the health status of their citizens. The report is meant to ?identify factors that affect the health of a population and determine the availability of resources within the county to adequately address these factors.? Then, the report is presented to local organizations, policy makers and community leaders so they develop ways to address the issues.

Past Cabarrus Community Needs Assessments led to the development of the Concord Kannapolis Area Transit system and the Give the Kids a Smile program, which involves one free day of dental care for Cabarrus children each year, said William Pilkington, executive director of the Cabarrus Health Alliance and the local public health director.

Pilkington said he believes the lack of local dental care for adults and children remains one of the top health issues facing the community. Individuals tend to reduce their spending on dental care when budgets tighten, he said. Medicaid funding for dental services for adults also has been reduced in recent years. And folks are showing up in local emergency rooms more and more with dental problems, Pilkington said.

In addition, there aren?t enough dentists in Cabarrus County for everyone.

?Right now it?s hard to get in as a paying patient let alone someone who can?t pay,? he said.

Cabarrus County?s 150-page report was developed by a 42-member local coalition of health and education professionals, leaders, and community organizations and highlights the health status, needs, and gaps faced by Cabarrus County residents. The yearlong process involves collecting data from more than 1,700 citizens and community leaders who completed written and electronic surveys.

Healthy Cabarrus, Cabarrus Health Alliance, and Carolinas Medical Center-NorthEast led the effort to develop the Cabarrus County Community Needs Assessment 2012 using data collected from local, state, and national sources as well as from local leaders and residents.

Some of the key findings were:

? The population of Cabarrus has grown significantly in the past decade and now stands at 178,000. This is a 33 percent increase between 2000 and 2010, nearly double the rate of growth at the state level.

? Poverty in Cabarrus County has increased significantly. The percent of residents receiving food stamps has increased by 380 percent, more than tripling over the past decade.

? It is becoming less and less affordable for the average household in Cabarrus County to afford housing. In 2009, nearly half of all renting households were paying more than 30 percent of their income toward rent.

? The unemployment rate in 2011 was officially at 10 percent in Cabarrus County. Yet, 18 percent of citizens responded that either they or a member of their household were unemployed (and wanted a job).

? Over the past 10 years, Cabarrus County has seen a shift in its economy, with a decline in manufacturing and increase in education, health, and hospitality employment. Only 8.9 percent of Cabarrus County?s workforce is employed in the manufacturing industry compared to 23.28 percent in 2000.

? Approximately 41 percent of children and 67 percent of adults are either overweight or obese in Cabarrus County.

? 100 percent of survey respondents eliminated at least one health service over the past year due to cost. The most frequently postponed or eliminated were preventative dental services, dental treatment and prescription medications.

Coalition members began presenting the report to local businesses, organizations, policy makers and community leaders earlier this month. Already, they have presented the report to the Mount Pleasant, Harrisburg and Midland town councils.

The report will be presented to the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners at their meeting on Nov. 5. That meeting is open to the public and will be at 4 p.m. in the multipurpose room at the Cabarrus County Governmental Center, 65 Church St. SE, Concord. Concord City Council will hear the report at its meeting at 4 p.m. Nov. 6 in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 26 Union St. S. On Nov. 12, Kannapolis City Council will hear the report at its meeting at 6 p.m. in the Kannapolis Train Station, 201 South Main St..

?Citizens of Cabarrus County need to hear the 2012 Community Needs Assessment presentation,? Dakeita Vanderburg-Johnson, Chair of the Dissemination Committee, said in a statement about the report. ?These critical issues touch the lives of every Cabarrus County citizen. This in-depth study looks at the places in our society where help is needed most.

?Many of the findings are shocking and deserve attention as quickly as possible,? she said.

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Source: http://www2.independenttribune.com/lifestyles/2012/oct/12/obesity-diabetes-top-health-concerns-ar-2687753/

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