PBH 110: Introduction to Public Health Health Indicators handout

Health Indicators: diseases and/or conditions that can be used to determine the health (or lack thereof)
of a population. Low birth weight: Number of live births that are less than 2,500 grams (5.5 pounds) all live births in a given calendar year. Infant mortality rate: Number of infant deaths during a given calendar year the number of live births reported in the same year. It is usually expressed as the number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births. Birth rate: Number of babies born annually per 1,000 women of reproductive age in any given set of people. (# babies born # women of a given age). Life expectancy: Average number of years of life remaining at a particular age if death rates do not change. Disease-specific mortality rates: Number of people dying of a given disease the number at risk for dying. Usually expressed per 1000 (or 10,000; 100,000) persons. Unemployment rate: The number of unemployed individuals expressed as a percentage of the labor force (employable people). Age distribution of a population: The percentage of the total population in each age category. Sex distribution of a population: The percentage of the total population in each gender category. Socioeconomic status (SES): A prestige-based measure of socioeconomic position, as determined by rankings in a social hierarchy. Different organizations or government agencies (as well as different countries) may use different actual measures of SES. Family structure (single parents; extended families under one roof): The distribution of the population by family structure (what percent of the population falls into each type of familial structure). Racial, ethnic, and religious composition of a community: Similar to age and gender distribution measures. Availability of social and health services: This would encompass a number of measures having to do with the likelihood that a person can find social and/or health-related services when they need them. Different organizations or government agencies may have different ways of defining this health indicator. Social stability (residential mobility): An indication of the permanence (or lack thereof) in a community, including factors such as movement to a different house in the same county, a different county, city, state, or movement abroad. Homicide rate: Number of people killed the population at risk of being killed (usually by age groupings). Suicide rate: Number of people who commit suicide the population at risk of committing suicide (usually be age groupings). Health Indicators Page 1 of 2

PBH 110: Introduction to Public Health Health Indicators handout Drug and alcohol abuse rates: Similar measures as homicide, suicide rates, but for drug and/or alcohol abuse. Teen pregnancy rates: Number of teenage girls becoming pregnant in a given year number at risk of becoming pregnant. _____________________________________________________________________________________

Healthy People 2010 (adapted from: http://www.healthypeople.gov/About/)

Healthy People 2010 provides a framework for prevention for the United States (U.S.) as a statement of national health objectives designed to identify the most significant preventable threats to health and to establish national goals to reduce these threats. The Leading Health Indicators (LHI - see below) are used to measure the health of the U.S. Each of the 10 LHIs has one or more objectives from Healthy People 2010 associated with it. As a group, the LHIs reflect the major health concerns in the U.S. at the beginning of the 21st century. The LHIs were selected on the basis of their ability to motivate action, the availability of data, and their importance as public health issues. The LHIs illuminate individual behaviors, physical and social environmental factors, and important health system issues that greatly affect the health of individuals and communities. Underlying each of these indicators is the significant influence of income and education. The process of selecting the LHIs was led by an interagency work group within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Individuals and organizations provided comments at national and regional meetings or via mail. A report by the Institute of Medicine (National Academy of Sciences) provided several scientific models on which to support a set of indicators. Focus groups were used to ensure that the indicators are meaningful and motivating to the public. For each of the LHIs, specific objectives derived from Healthy People 2010 will be used to track progress. This set of measures will provide a snapshot of the health of the Nation. Tracking and communicating progress on the LHIs through national- and state-level report cards will spotlight achievements and challenges in the next decade. The LHIs serve as a link to the 467 objectives in Healthy People 2010 and can become the basic building blocks for community health initiatives. The LHIs are intended to help everyone more easily understand the importance of health promotion and disease prevention and to encourage wide participation in improving health in the next decade. Developing strategies and action plans to address one or more of these indicators can have a profound effect on increasing the quality of life and the years of healthy life and on eliminating health disparitiescreating healthy people in healthy communities. The Leading Health Indicators are:

Physical Activity Overweight and Obesity Tobacco Use Substance Abuse Responsible Sexual Behavior

Mental Health Injury and Violence Environmental Quality Immunization Access to Health Care

Health Indicators Page 2 of 2