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.
Colorectal Cancer Screenings Among Older Adults
Tuesday. June 5, 2012
This past June 3rd marked the 25th observance of National Cancer Survivors Day. With various community events planned across the US, this day was used as a celebration of the lives of those living with, or who have lived with, cancer. And there is even more reason to celebrate. A study published last year from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute found the number of Americans who are cancer survivors continues to be on the rise—in 1971, there were 3.0 million cancer survivors; in 2001, there were 9.8 million survivors; and in 2007, there were 11.7 million survivors [2].
According to the American Cancer Society, for cancers such as colorectal cancer, the number of people diagnosed with and who have died from this disease has been decreasing over the past 20 years [1]. Much of the decline in both the diagnosis of and death from colorectal cancer is due to improvements in early screening tests to detect cancerous polyps. In fact, one recent study confirmed what many people already suspected—that colonoscopies save lives [5].
Physical Activity among Adults and Children in SEPA
Tuesday. July 10, 2012
With the official start of summer underway, many adults and children are taking advantage of this warmer weather by being more active outdoors. This is great news for their health! There are numerous benefits to regular physical activity, including:
- Burning calories and reducing body fat;
- Reducing appetite;
- Improving chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease;
- Improving the ability to perform daily tasks;
- Decreasing risk for osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease; and
- Decreasing risk of early death
Dental Care Access among Children in SEPA
Tuesday. February 7, 2012
Access to dental care remains an important issue as more than 25 percent of children in the United States between the ages of two and five are affected by tooth decay; this figure increases to over fifty percent among children 12 to 15 years old (1). Additionally, approximately 16% of children ages 6 to 19 went untreated for dental caries due to lack of dental care access (2). The Community Health Data Base last looked at dental care access among children in the region in a data brief produced in 2008 (click here to access that brief). Since that time the percentage of children with no dental visit in the past year has slightly decreased from 11.5% in 2008 to 9.1% in 2010. However, disparities still exist in dental care access in the region.
Assessing Children's Health and Well-being in Mercer County, New Jersey
Friday. January 6, 2012
Earlier this year, staff from Public Health Management Corporation's Community Health Data Base and Children's Futures partnered to develop a survey assessing the health and well-being of children residing in Mercer County, New Jersey. This telephone survey was conducted in 1,001 households about a selected child 0-17 years of age. Information was collected about a variety of child health and well-being indicators such as health status and chronic health conditions; usual source of care and utilization of care; child care and after-school activities; positive social skills; neighborhood amenities and support; and community safety and school safety. The following article presents selected key highlights from this survey.
High Stress Levels among Adults in Southeastern Pennsylvania
Thursday. December 6, 2012
As the holiday season is upon us, this time of the year can be filled with joy and excitement as we spend time with family, attend holiday parties or entertain guests, participate in religious observations, bake, shop, and decorate. However, the holiday season can also bring unwanted and increased demands on our time. Some of us may become stressed because of our inability to meet those demands.