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1997
DATA SERIES
What is the
health status of the Mason County
community?
The most recent
formal assessment of the health of our
citizens and our community was published
in 1997, Mason County Health Profile. This
assessment was a collaborative effort of
the 5-county Regional Assessment
Partnership (Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason,
Pacific and Wahkiakum counties) funded
through a grant from WA State Department
of Health. The Chapter Summaries are
included here. The full report is
available for viewing through the Mason
County Department of Health and Mason
Matters.
The Human
Environment
- The 1996
population was estimated to be 46,970
and one of the fastest growing counties
in the state. From 1990 to 1996 our
growth rate was ranked fifth in the
state at 21.8%.
- From 1980-1990,
there was a total population growth of
7,157 people, with majority of growth
due to people moving into the
county.
- Since 1980,
Mason County has lost significant
numbers of youth adults (20-24 yrs). I
n addition, young women are leaving at
a higher rate than young
men.
- The growth of
the population has been primarily in
age groups over 35 yrs.
- In 1996, the
Hispanic ethnic population was
estimated to be 2.8% of the
population.
- The 1990 census
showed that a higher number of Mason
County children lived in single parent
households, compared to the state,
majority of these households were
headed by females.
- The 1990 high
school dropout rate was double the
state average. However, it has been
improving since 1980.
- The percent of
workers who commute to job outside the
county has been increasing.
- In 1996, Mason
County's unemployment rate was slightly
higher that the state
average.
- Income levels in
Mason County have failed to keep pace
with inflation or with the income
levels in the state.
- The number of
persons living in poverty increased 57%
between 1980 and 1990.
The Physical
Environment
- Between 1974 and
1993, one billion pounds of wastes were
deposited in the Mason County landfill.
Groundwater in the areas is now being
closely monitored.
- On the past 15
years, more that 25% of Washington's
shellfish growing areas have been
closed to commercial harvesting due to
inadequate control of pollution
sources.
- Five of Mason
County's 18 recreational growing areas
have been closed due to sewage
pollution.
- Sanitary surveys
(1992-1996) of septic systems in the
three watershed resulted in over 500
septic repairs and the re-opening of
500 acres of commercial shellfish
growing area along the lower Hood
Canal.
- A septic system
Operation and Maintenance program was
adopted in 1996.
- Deaths from
rabies in Mason and Lewis counties have
raised state-wide concerns, since they
were the first cases in the state in 55
years and were not clearly linked to
animal bites.
- Logging has a
fatality rate of 135.1 per 100,00 full
time workers, compared to fatality
rates of 44.7 for lumber mills and 12.8
for construction.
- Each year in
Washington, there are 20,000 serious
and 100,000-200,000 other injuries at
school.
Maternal and
Infant Health
- In Washington,
52% of all mothers receiving public
assistance had their first child as an
adolescent, and half of these mothers
lacked a High school diploma or
GED.
- In Mason County,
the rate of teens (15-19 yrs.) giving
birth was significantly higher that the
state average.
- The average age
of fathers of births to teenage mothers
was 21 years. The youngest teenage
mothers (under 16 years) had the
greatest age disparity between the
mother and father of the baby,
indicating the possibility of sexual
abuse by the older males.
- In 1993-1994, an
estimated 55% of all pregnancies in
Washington were unintended, with the
highest percentage (68%) among mother
under 20 years.
- In Mason County,
the largest number of children born to
single mothers were born to women in
the 20-34 year age range.
- In Washington,
6.3% of women giving birth while on
Medicaid and enrolled in First Steps
have been identified by the First Steps
program as using drugs or alcohol
during their pregnancy.
Infectious
Diseases
- There were 36
cases of HIV/AIDS diagnosed in Mason
County since 1984.
- Mason County had
the highest rate of Hepatitis A cases
in western Washington in
1996.
- The Hepatitis C
rate for Mason County during 1988-1995
was three times the rate of Washington
State as a whole.
- From 1993 to
1996, the chlamydia rate in Mason
County was cut in half.
- The highest rate
of chlamydial infection occurred in
young women aged 15-19
years.
- From 1984-1991,
the number of TB cases increased 48% in
the state of Washington.
Non-infectious
Diseases
- The average life
expectancy in Mason County decreased
from the early 1980's to the
mid-1990's.
- From 1986-1995,
the leading causes of death in Mason
County were cancer, heart disease,
diabetes-related diseases,
unintentional injuries and
stroke.
- From 1991-1995,
28% of all Mason County deaths were
attributed to cancer, compared the
state average of 25%.
- Cancer rates
have increased dramatically for Mason
County residents since early
1980's.
- Respiratory
cancer is, by far, the leading cause of
cancer deaths in Mason
County.
- The rate of
death due to colorectal cancer has
increased dramatically since late
19880's, with deaths by women being the
main reason for the
increase.
Unintentional
and Intentional Injury
- From 1991-1995,
men in Mason County had 3 times greater
death rate due to injury compared to
women.
- In Mason County,
54 people died in motor vehicle
accidents from 1991-1995. Twenty-five
of these deaths involved
alcohol.
- After motor
vehicle accidents, suicide was the
leading cause of deaths for residents
15-44 years.
- From 1991-1995,
there were 56 suicides in Mason County;
this rate was almost twice the state
average.
Social
Health
- From 1990-1995,
the rate per 1,000 children of Child
Protective Service cases warranting
invetigation was significantly higher
that that of Washington
State.
- Battery is the
single biggest cause of injury to women
in the US. During 1992-93, the Mason
County rate of petition for protection
orders was significantly higher than
that of Washington State.
- 1997 estimates
suggest that 2.7% of the US population
(representing 1,341 in Mason County)
have a severe, persistent mental
illness.
- Approximately
11% of preventable deaths are related
to use of alcohol and illicit
drugs.
- The 1995
Washington State Survey of Adolescent
Health Behaviors (WSSAHB) showed that
youth in Mason County have comparable
levels of substance use with the state
average.
- According to the
WSSAHB, alcohol is the most widely used
substance by Mason County youth, and
58% of Mason County elementary, middle
and high school students have used
alcohol at some time.
- Tobacco use
causes approximately 1 of 5 deaths in
the US and is the most important
preventable cause of death and
disease.
- According to the
WSSAHB, 46% of Mason County middle and
high school students have used
cigarettes.
- According to the
WSSAHB, about 24% ;of Mason County
students have used marijuana, with 12%
reporting use in the past 30
days.
- According to the
WSSAHB, about 24% ;of Mason County
students have used inhalants, with 4%
reporting use in the past 30
days.
- In 1993, there
were 482 alcohol-related arrests in
Mason County, not counting arrests made
by the Washington State
Patrol.
- In 1993, there
were 24 alcohol-related juvenile
arrests, 97 adult drug-related arrests,
and 10 juvenile drug-related arrests in
Mason County.
- Majority of
individuals in Mason County alcohol and
drug treatment programs used drugs or
alcohol as teens, many beginning use
prior to the age of 13
years.
Access to
Health Care
- In 1994, it was
estimated that 15% of the Mason County
population did not have health
insurance, compared to 12% of the
Washington State population as a
whole.
- The percentage
of employers that provide health
insurance plans to their employees
dropped from 80% in 1980, to an
estimated 52% in 1996.
- Although
fluoridation of commercial water
supplies results in tooth decay
reduction of up to 60%, only three
public water systems in Mason County
are fluoridated, with a total of 140
connections serving 528
residents.
- Seventy-nine
percent of of the 1,592
Medicaid-sponsored Mason County
children receiving dental services had
to go outside Mason County for
services.
- What
are the issues impacting the quality of
our lives
- and
the health of our
community?
In January 1998, a
group of 30 coomunity members,
representing all sectors of our community
met to identify the health and social
issues that impact the quality of living
of Mason County residents. This group
reviewed and critique the data represented
in the 1997 Mason County Health Profile.
They highlighted the following issues as
impactive.
- Affordable
housing
- Asthma
- Cancer
- Child
abuse
- Community school
support
- Dental
access
- Diabetes
- Domestic
violence
- Drug and alcohol
use
- Health
insurance
- Economic
opportunities
- Hepatitis A
& C
- HIV/AIDS
- Landfill
pollution
- Mental
Health
- Maternal
smoking/drug use
- Motor vehicle
safety
- Sense of
community
- Services for the
elderly
- Single parent
pregnancy
- Smoking-adults
- Smoking-teens
- Suicide
- Teen
pregnancy
- Water
Quality
At a retreat in May
1998, Mason Matters group prioritized
these issues. The following criteria were
used in the prioritization
process:
- How many people
in Mason County are affected by the
issue?
- Is Mason County
faring less well then the rest of the
State?
- How severe is
the impact of the issue on individuals
or the community?
- Is this an issue
that can be impacted through community
action? (Would an intervention make a
difference?)
- Will there be
community support to address the
issue?
Based upon these
criteria, the group prioritized the issues
in the following order:
- Teen
Pregnancy
- Drug and Alcohol
Use
- Domestic
Violence
- Water
Quality
- Community
Support for Schools
- Economic
Opportunities
- Dental
Access
The issues of
Teen
Pregnancy
and Domestic
Violence
were selected as the first two foci for
Mason Matters, since both received the
highest rating under the "Energy and
Interest Addressing" question. Two work
groups were formed in May 1998.
The remaining five
priority issues were re-evaluated in
September 2000. The two issues that
received the highest rating for
"significance of the issue,"
"opportunities for community action
leading to improvements," and
"interest/committment" were Water Quality
and Connecting community with Education.
Mason Matters is now forming two new work
groups to address these issues.
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