Latest news with #SheriJohnson
Axios
01-04-2025
- Health
- Axios
Where Marion County ranks among Indiana's healthiest counties
Marion County lags behind much of the state — and the nation — when it comes to the health outcomes of its residents, a new report suggests. Why it matters: The analysis finds that Marion County residents have an overall shorter life expectancy than the average Hoosier, and are grappling with a number of difficult economic and environmental issues. The big picture: Community conditions, including everything from affordable housing to accessible broadband, vary greatly across the U.S., creating wide disparities in health and lifespans. Driving the news: The closer look at the health of Marion County is courtesy of the 2025 County Health Rankings compiled by the University of Wisconsin's Population Health Institute. The annual study not only measures physical and mental health factors but also indicators like housing, unemployment, education and environmental issues — all of which can be improved for longer, healthier lives. "The conditions necessary for healthy, thriving communities don't happen by chance," said Sheri Johnson, a principal investigator for the project. Zoom in: The 2025 report determined that Marion County " is faring worse" than the average Indiana and U.S. county for population health and well-being. The county was found to have higher rates of premature deaths (years of potential life lost before age 75); housing problems like overcrowding, high costs and lacking kitchen facilities; and a high child care cost burden. Yes, but: Some of the county's noted strengths were access to broadband, access to exercise opportunities and a positive ratio of mental health providers. The other side: All of Marion's surrounding counties are faring better, including Hamilton County, which stands out as one of the nation's healthiest. Some of HamCo's biggest pros were high levels of education, low unemployment and a strong food environment index, which includes access to healthy foods and low food insecurity. Air pollution was the only area noted in the report as needing improvement. What they're saying: "As we work toward a world where everyone has what they need to thrive, we must continue to uncover and challenge the power and rules that shape health and well-being," the report's authors wrote.
Axios
27-03-2025
- Health
- Axios
San Francisco ranks among healthiest counties in California and U.S.
San Francisco is more likely to have community conditions that contribute to better health than other counties, the 2025 County Health Rankings show. Why it matters: Community conditions — also called "social determinants" — range from affordable housing and well-funded schools to accessible broadband and air pollution levels. These factors can vary greatly across the U.S., creating wide disparities in health and life expectancy. How it works: The report, published annually by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, ranks counties by the quality of those factors, along with data on premature deaths, low birthweight, and self-reported mental and physical well-being. Some are directly connected to health, such as the number of doctors in a community or vaccination rates. Others are indirectly tied to physical health, such as social ties, educational opportunities, work commute times, economic well-being, and the environment. What they're saying: "The conditions necessary for healthy, thriving communities don't happen by chance," said Dr. Sheri Johnson, a principal investigator for the project. Zoom in: San Francisco is faring better than the average county in California and in the nation, the findings show. Most Bay Area counties also earned high scores, with Marin County ranking highest in the state. Imperial ranked lowest; many Central Valley counties also fared poorly. The big picture: As a community with one of the healthiest scores, San Francisco has a lower rate of preventable hospital stays, less poverty, and more access to healthy foods than other counties. San Francisco also has a better provider-to-people ratio of primary care doctors, dentists and mental health professionals. By the numbers: From 2019 to 2023, the county reported an 89% high school graduation rate. Some 88% of adults ages 25 to 44 had completed some type of post-secondary education within that same time frame (compared with just 68% of adults nationally). 100% of the population also has adequate exercise opportunities, with access to public parks, according to data from 2019 and 2022. Yes, but: When it comes to housing, nearly a quarter of households (compared with 17% nationally) have experienced either overcrowding, high housing costs, or lack of kitchen or plumbing facilities. Child care costs also remain a huge burden for San Francisco families, with the average household spending 41% of its income on child care for two children in 2023 and 2024 (compared with 28% nationally). Zoom out: Appalachia, the Deep South, Tribal regions and counties along the U.S.-Mexico border were more likely to have community conditions that contribute to poorer health due to a longstanding history of discrimination and disinvestment, the report shows. The bottom line: People in power or policymakers often create and maintain the conditions that have the greatest effect on health outcomes through laws, culture and norms, Johnson said.
