Darke County Ranks 22^nd Healthiest Ohio County

Greenville, OH – Darke County has been listed as having the 22^nd healthiest residents in Ohio, out of     88 counties, according to a new report released last week by the Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.  The County Health Rankings are the first to rank the overall health of the counties in all 50 states – more than 3,000 in total – by using a standard formula to measure how healthy people are and how long they l

The report, created from information compiled from nationally available data from both the Center for Disease Control & the National Center for Health Statistics, used several health indicators as a measuring tool to compare the same categories against the state averages. The outcome of the study showed that there are big differences in the overall health across Ohio counties due to many factors - ranging from individual behavior to quality of healthcare, education and jobs, to access to healthy foods, and to quality of the air.  The results of the study allows individual counties to be able to compare the overall health of their county to the health of other counties in Ohio.

Within the report, the area of HEALTH OUTCOMES RANKINGS (where Darke Co. ranked 22^nd) was one of the two main headings of the study.  Two subcategories that were combined in this area for a final score dealt with mortality and morbidity measures.  The mortality caption represented length of life and was based on a measure of premature death compared to the years of potential life lost prior to age 75.  The morbidity caption was a measure that reviewed health-related quality of life and birth outcomes.  The four subcategories used in these tabulations were:  Self-reported Fair or Poor Health, Poor Physical Health Days, Poor Mental Health Days, and the Percent of Births with Low Birthweights.   

The second major heading of this study was that of HEALTH FACTOR RANKINGS.  This area summarized the following four health indicators for a second ranking of which Darke County earned the mark of 18^th against the total of 88 counties:  Health Behaviors, Clinical Care, Social & Economic, & Physical Environment.  Once again, each of these headings consisted of subtitles that were used in the measuring process to formally arrive at a final calculation.  Under Health Behavior information used was statistics on smoking, diet & exercise, alcohol use, and risky sex behavior.  Clinical Care included measures of access to care and quality of care.  The subcategory of Social & Economic factors included facts about education, employment, income, family & social support, and community safety.  The Physical Environment area included measures about environment quality and as well as the built environment. 

Dr. Terrence Holman, Darke County Health Commissioner, said, “We are pleased with the overall results of Darke County’s state ranking within this report.  The quality of health and healthy living by the citizens of our county has improved greatly over the past years.  At the same time the information released also gives us a resource from which to base improvements on for the future.  Our community-wide group efforts need to continue in the years to come so that together we can continue to live healthier lives”.   He further reminded everyone that some of the Public Health actions that have certainly boosted our state’s healthy lifestyle in the recent years have been - the expanded early childhood education, the passing of smoke-free laws, increased access to healthier foods, & the creation of more opportunities for physical activity.       

This report, available online at www.countyhealthrankings.org is open for the public to view and study.  These rankings demonstrate that health happens where we live learn, work, and play.  Much of what influences how healthy we are and how long we live happens beyond the doors of the physician’s office.  Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, MBA, President & CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation states, “We hope the County Health Rankings spur all sectors – government, business, community & faith-based groups, education and public health – to work together on solutions that address barriers to good health and help all Americans lead healthier lives”.  

Home Page

Page last updated: 2/24/2010