MADISON/PRINCETON, N.J.- Residents in Green, Lafayette, Dane and Iowa counties are among the healthiest in the state, according to the 2013 County Health Rankings released March 20 by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
The rankings examine the health and well-being of people living in nearly every county in every state across the nation and show how long and well people live based on multiple factors beyond just access to medical care. This is the tenth release of County Health Rankings in Wisconsin by UWPHI.
Green County ranks in the top quartile of the 72 Wisconsin counties for health outcomes (16) and health factors (11). It also ranks in the top quartile for health behaviors (3), social and economic factors (16), and physical environment (17). Green County ranks in the top half of Wisconsin counties for clinical care (34).
"It is exciting to see our rankings improve over the last few years, especially in the area of health behaviors," said RoAnn Warden, Green County health officer. "Green County residents are leading the way by eating healthy, staying active and not smoking."
Green County came in below the state average for adult smoking, adult obesity, physical inactivity, teen birth rate and sexually transmitted diseases. It was above state averages for excessive drinking and motor vehicle crashes.
Lafayette County ranks in the top half for health outcomes (24) and health factors (29). It ranks in the top quartile for health behaviors (6) and social and economic factors (14), but ranks in the bottom half of Wisconsin counties for clinical care (71) and physical environment (50).
"Lafayette County eagerly awaits the annual release of the County Health Rankings, as it is helpful and meaningful to see how we compare to our neighbors, in the state as well as nationally," said Debbie Siegenthaler, Lafayette County health officer. "The rankings inform and motivate the work of Live Well Lafayette, our local community health improvement coalition, working to improve and help Lafayette County residents live better and longer lives."
Lafayette fell below state average levels in all factors except in adult obesity and motor vehicle crashes. Lafayette County lost many rankings positions, dropping to 71st in the state, though its number of residents per doctor is nearly twice that of Green County, and three times that of the state average. Even so, in health outcome rankings, Lafayette County (24) manages to stay pretty healthy, recording fewer poor health days and low birth weights than state averages.
Dane County ranks in the top quartile for health outcomes (15) and health factors (3). It ranks in the top quartile for health behaviors (2), clinical care (6), and social and economic factors (9). Dane County ranks in the bottom half for physical environment (49).
Iowa County ranks in the top quartile for health outcomes (7) and top half for health factors (23). The county ranks in the top quartile for social and economic factors (7), but ranks in the bottom half of Wisconsin counties for health behaviors (47), clinical care (55) and physical environment (66).
Rock County ranks in the bottom quartile for health outcomes (62) and health factors (64). It ranked in the bottom quartile for every subcategory of health factors, except clinical care, where it ranked in the bottom half (42).
UWPHI researchers used five measures of mortality and morbidity, such as premature death, fair or poor health days, and low birth weights, to assess the overall health for each county.
The rankings also examine 25 health factors, within four categories that are given weighted measurements: Health behaviors (30%), clinical care (20%), social and economic factors (40%), and physical environment (10%).
In social and economic factors, which measure schooling levels, poverty levels and crime rates, Green (16) and Lafayette (14) came out in the top quartile.
Physical environment factors weighed only 10 percent in the health rankings, but access to fast foods for 50 percent of its citizens' time was enough to drop Dane County to 49th standing, and Rock, at 42 percent, hit 64th place. Residents in Green and Lafayette counties have access to fast food establishments only about 25 percent of the time, according to the study. Green County's safe drinking water and large number of recreation facilities pulled it into 17th place, while Lafayette dropped to 50th place and Iowa County to 66th place with access to less of these two items.
According to the study, Wisconsin's five healthiest counties are Ozaukee, Kewaunee, St. Croix, Pierce, and Door.
The five counties in the poorest health are Menominee, Milwaukee, Marquette, Adams and Forest. The least healthy counties are primarily located in rural areas of central and northern Wisconsin with the exception of Milwaukee County, the state's most urban county, in the southeast.
The rankings, available at www.countyhealthrankings.org, include a snapshot of each county in Wisconsin.
The rankings examine the health and well-being of people living in nearly every county in every state across the nation and show how long and well people live based on multiple factors beyond just access to medical care. This is the tenth release of County Health Rankings in Wisconsin by UWPHI.
Green County ranks in the top quartile of the 72 Wisconsin counties for health outcomes (16) and health factors (11). It also ranks in the top quartile for health behaviors (3), social and economic factors (16), and physical environment (17). Green County ranks in the top half of Wisconsin counties for clinical care (34).
"It is exciting to see our rankings improve over the last few years, especially in the area of health behaviors," said RoAnn Warden, Green County health officer. "Green County residents are leading the way by eating healthy, staying active and not smoking."
Green County came in below the state average for adult smoking, adult obesity, physical inactivity, teen birth rate and sexually transmitted diseases. It was above state averages for excessive drinking and motor vehicle crashes.
Lafayette County ranks in the top half for health outcomes (24) and health factors (29). It ranks in the top quartile for health behaviors (6) and social and economic factors (14), but ranks in the bottom half of Wisconsin counties for clinical care (71) and physical environment (50).
"Lafayette County eagerly awaits the annual release of the County Health Rankings, as it is helpful and meaningful to see how we compare to our neighbors, in the state as well as nationally," said Debbie Siegenthaler, Lafayette County health officer. "The rankings inform and motivate the work of Live Well Lafayette, our local community health improvement coalition, working to improve and help Lafayette County residents live better and longer lives."
Lafayette fell below state average levels in all factors except in adult obesity and motor vehicle crashes. Lafayette County lost many rankings positions, dropping to 71st in the state, though its number of residents per doctor is nearly twice that of Green County, and three times that of the state average. Even so, in health outcome rankings, Lafayette County (24) manages to stay pretty healthy, recording fewer poor health days and low birth weights than state averages.
Dane County ranks in the top quartile for health outcomes (15) and health factors (3). It ranks in the top quartile for health behaviors (2), clinical care (6), and social and economic factors (9). Dane County ranks in the bottom half for physical environment (49).
Iowa County ranks in the top quartile for health outcomes (7) and top half for health factors (23). The county ranks in the top quartile for social and economic factors (7), but ranks in the bottom half of Wisconsin counties for health behaviors (47), clinical care (55) and physical environment (66).
Rock County ranks in the bottom quartile for health outcomes (62) and health factors (64). It ranked in the bottom quartile for every subcategory of health factors, except clinical care, where it ranked in the bottom half (42).
UWPHI researchers used five measures of mortality and morbidity, such as premature death, fair or poor health days, and low birth weights, to assess the overall health for each county.
The rankings also examine 25 health factors, within four categories that are given weighted measurements: Health behaviors (30%), clinical care (20%), social and economic factors (40%), and physical environment (10%).
In social and economic factors, which measure schooling levels, poverty levels and crime rates, Green (16) and Lafayette (14) came out in the top quartile.
Physical environment factors weighed only 10 percent in the health rankings, but access to fast foods for 50 percent of its citizens' time was enough to drop Dane County to 49th standing, and Rock, at 42 percent, hit 64th place. Residents in Green and Lafayette counties have access to fast food establishments only about 25 percent of the time, according to the study. Green County's safe drinking water and large number of recreation facilities pulled it into 17th place, while Lafayette dropped to 50th place and Iowa County to 66th place with access to less of these two items.
According to the study, Wisconsin's five healthiest counties are Ozaukee, Kewaunee, St. Croix, Pierce, and Door.
The five counties in the poorest health are Menominee, Milwaukee, Marquette, Adams and Forest. The least healthy counties are primarily located in rural areas of central and northern Wisconsin with the exception of Milwaukee County, the state's most urban county, in the southeast.
The rankings, available at www.countyhealthrankings.org, include a snapshot of each county in Wisconsin.