Jefferson County Health Ranks in the Top Half of the State

Jefferson County has some mixed health news according to the County Health Ranking and Roadmaps study conducted by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

The county ranked in the top half of health outcomes for all Missouri counties but residents needed to focus on increasing the number of doctors in the county, lessen tobacco consumption and lose weight to improve their quality of life. 

In terms of health outcome, which evaluates residents’ length of life and their quality of life, Jefferson County ranked 35 out of Missouri’s 115 counties evaluated.

And in terms of health factors, the county ranked 68. Health factors consider the community’s social and economic factors, the amount of clinical care in the county, and health behaviors.

Social and economic factors include community safety, family and social support, income, employment and education.

Clinical care considers the population’s access to and quality of health care.

Health behaviors evaluate alcohol consumption, diet and exercise, tobacco use, and level of sexual activity.

The report gave three main concerns for Jefferson County residents’ health: A low number of doctors for the population, a high adult obesity rate and a high consumption rate of tobacco.

There are about 3.5 times more people than primary care doctors in Jefferson County, the report said. About 36 percent of the population is obese and 30 percent of the population smoke tobacco daily. The state average for obesity is 31 percent and daily smokers are about 24 percent of the state’s population.

The state average is about 1,000 residents per doctor.

Also the study said Jefferson County residents were likely to say that they were depressed or had emotional problems 4.3 days during a month. The state average is about 3.7 days.

St. Charles County ranked among the best counties in terms of health factors. St. Charles County had one doctor per about 1,700 residents and 17 percent of the residents smoked tobacco daily. Although 30 percent of the population was obese and 24 percent drank excessive amounts of alcohol, the study said. St. Charles residents were depressed about 3.3 days per month.

St. Louis County ranked slightly lower than St. Charles County in the report. St. Louis County residents reported being depressed about 2.9 days per month, about 18 percent of the population smoked tobacco daily and about 29 percent of the population was obese. In terms of doctor-to-resident ratio, St. Louis County had one primary care physician per 588 residents, the report said.