Below you can read our findings based on our various sources of data. If you would like to dig deeper into a specific subject, select a category from the menu to the left below Community Dashboard.
The Health Status of Men in Southeastern Pennsylvania: Health Behaviors and Access to Care
June 2014
June is Men’s Health Month, which is celebrated across the country with screenings, health fairs, media appearances, and other health education and outreach activities. The purpose of Men’s Health Month is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. Men die 5.2 years earlier than women, on average.1 Men are at higher risk for early death because a higher percentage of men have no health care coverage and men may have less healthy lifestyles, including risk-taking at younger ages.2 Men in Southeastern Pennsylvania face similar barriers to care as men nationally.
Older Adults in Southeastern Pennsylvania: A Look at Key Household, Neighborhood and Wellbeing Factors
May 2014
Each May, this country celebrates Older Americans Month to recognize and celebrate older Americans for their contributions and provide them with information to help them stay healthy and active.1 According to the U.S. Census Bureau, adults 65 years of age and older accounted for 13.7% of the total population as of July 2012—an estimated 43.1 million adults. The projected population of those 65 and older in year 2060 is 92 million.2 With the growing older adult population in this country, it is important to assess and address the diversity of needs of this population. Older Americans Months allows us to do just that and raise awareness about the critical issues impacting older adults in this country.
Access to Dental Care Among SEPA Children
February 2014
Access to dental care remains an important issue as more than 14% of children in the United States between the ages of three and five are affected by tooth decay [1]. Untreated tooth decay has been associated with a failure to thrive, and children with dental problems lose an estimated 52 million school hours annually. Poor oral health often continues into adulthood with the potential to affect speech, nutrition, economic productivity, and quality of life [2]. In recognition of February as National Children's Dental Health Month, the following presents selected findings from the 2012 Southeastern Pennsylvania Household Health Survey related to children's dental care access. The SEPA Household Health Survey is a survey of 10,000 households in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties conducted by PHMC's Center for Data Innovation.
A Look at Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Access in Southeastern Pennsylvania
March 2014
March is National Nutrition Month, an annual campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to bring attention to the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. According to the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, Americans eat less than the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables, whole-grans, dairy products, and oils.[1] At the same time, American diets exceed the recommended intake levels of calories from solid fats and added sugars, refined grains, sodium and saturated fat.[2]
Balancing the Cost of Healthcare and Other Necessities in Southeastern Pennsylvania
January 2014
Healthcare expenses make up a significant proportion of the average individual's budget, with the 2012 average at $3,556 per consumer[1], as well as a notable chunk of the US Gross Domestic Product, 18% of which can be attributed to healthcare spending.[2] Healthcare spending rose by 7.3% between 2011 and 2012.[3]
Using data from the 2012 Southeastern Pennsylvania Household Health Survey, a survey of 10,000 households in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties conducted by PHMC's Center for Data Innovation, this article looks the competing financial needs that many adults in our region face, including paying for healthcare visits, prescriptions, meals and housing.