Our Picture of Health 1998:
Focusing on Community Health to the Year 2000CHAPTER 7: HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
PREVENTIVE CARE, EXERCISE, AND SAFETY
58. Motor Vehicle and Bicycle Safety
The Healthy People 2000 goal is to increase use of seat belts to at least 85% of occupants, use of helmets by at least 80% of motorcyclists, and 50% of bicyclists.
More respondents reported using seatbelts and helmets in 1997 than did in 1994. The use of seatbelts and helmets matches the benchmark for all groups except that adults still don't "buckle up" as much as they should.
Changes in the Colorado law may have contributed to the reported increase in seatbelt use and car seats.
May link to . . .
- Education
- Accidental Death Rate
Figure 7-31: Use of Seat Belts and Helmets
Source: 1997 Risk Behavior Survey
59. Immunization Rate
The Healthy People 2000 goal is to increase basic immunization series among children under age 2 to at least 90%.
In response to two measles outbreaks in Mesa County, a joint campaign was conducted to increase the percent of school-age children with two doses of Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine to 90%. That goal was met in 1996, and Mesa County was the first county in Colorado to reach that level.
The Mesa County Health Department, with its partners, Community Hospital, Rocky Mountain HMO and St. Mary's Hospital, has a new goal of having all children complete basic vaccinations by age two. There are now vaccines that significantly reduce disease and death from chicken pox, meningitis and pneumonia.
May link to . . .
- Education
- Economy
60. Dental Care for Adults and Children
The Healthy People 2000 goal is to reduce untreated dental caries to no more than 20% in young children and no more than 15% in adolescents; and reduce to no more than 20% the proportion of people aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
This is the first time this indicator has been studied in Mesa County. Children in Mesa County and the nation receive more frequent dental care than do adults. Both adults and children in Mesa County receive less care than the national average.
May link to . . .
- Education
- Economy
- Health Insurance
Figure 7-32: Dental Care
Source: 1997 Risk Behavior Survey
61. Sexually Transmitted Diseases
The well-known sexually transmitted diseases, syphilis and gonorrhea, are under control in Mesa County.
The most prevalent STD in the United States is chlamydia. Colorado is currently participating in a six state control project to reduce chlamydia. Of the 7,704 cases in Colorado in 1997, 77% were in women.
Women are most impacted by this disease because of the complications from untreated chlamydia infections, including: pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic pregnancy, chronic pelvic pain and infertility. Women don't often have symptoms and the disease is detected primarily through screening.
Females with the most positive tests are 15-19 (43%) years old. Among men, the most positive test results are 20-24 years old.
Figure 7-33: Cases of Sexually Transmitted Disease
Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
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