PC third in health factors

Perkins County ranked third in health outcomes and 44th in health factors in Nebraska’s 2018 County Health Rankings. 

These ranks are compared to 80 counties ranked in the state. 

Myra Stoney of Southwest Nebraska Health Department reported the findings to Perkins County commissioners at a recent meeting. 

Health outcomes represent measures of how long people live and how healthy people feel. Length of life is measured by premature death (years of potential life lost before 75) and quality of life is measured by self-reported health status and the percentage of low-birthweight newborns. 

Health factors represent the focus areas that drive how long and how well people live, including health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic factors, and physical environment. 

Health is influenced by a range of factors. However, social and economic factors, like connected and supportive communities, good schools, stable jobs and safe neighborhoods, are foundations to achieving long and healthy lives. 

The County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program is a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. 

The goals of the program are to:

• Build awareness of the multiple factors that influence health.  

•Provide a reliable, sustainable source of local data and evidence to communities to help them identify opportunities to improve their health.

• Engage and activate local leaders from many sectors in creating sustainable community change.

• Connect and empower community leaders working to improve health.

The rankings are compiled using county-level measures from a variety of national and state data sources. These measures are standardized and combined using scientifically-informed weights. They can be found at www.countyhealthrankings.org.

Health Outcomes 44

Length of Life 36

Quality of Life 47

Poor or fair health 12%

Poor physical health days 2.8 in 30

Poor mental health days 2.9 in 30

Low birthweight 8%

Health Factors 3

Health Behaviors 4

Adult smoking 14%

Adult obesity 26%

Food environment index 8.2 of 10

Physical inactivity 30%

Access to exercise opportunities 47%

Excessive drinking 19%

Alcohol-impaired driving deaths 0%

Clinical Care 66

Uninsured 11%

Primary care physicians 1,470:1

Dentists 2,900:1

Preventable hospital stays     81 per 100k

Diabetes monitoring 92%

Mammography screening 58%

Social and Economic 1

Some college 70%

Unemployment 2.3%

Children in poverty 15%

Income inequality 4.0

Children in single-parent households 11%

Social associations 34 per 10k

Violent crime       68 per 100k

Injury deaths       69 per 100k

Physical environment 9

Air pollution - particulate matter 7.2

Drinking water violations No

Severe housing problems 7%

Driving alone to work 78%

Long commute - driving alone 16%