Kewaunee County 8th, Door 34th in State Health Ranking

Kewaunee County ranks eighth in the state and Door County sits almost midway at No. 34 among the 72 county rankings in the ninth annual County Health Rankings, released Wednesday by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute (UWPHI).

The rankings look at the following metrics:  length and quality of life; health behaviors (including tobacco use, diet and exercise, alcohol and drug use, and sexual activity), clinical care (access and quality); social and economic factors (education, employment, income, family and social support, and community safety); and physical environment (air and water quality; housing and transportation).

These same metrics are applied to every county in every state, so various numbers in Wisconsin can be compared to the rest of the country. For example, 16 percent of children in Wisconsin live in poverty, while the U.S. rate is 20 percent, or Wisconsin’s high school graduation rate is 88 percent compared to the U.S. rate of 83 percent, or the teen birth rate, which is 20 births per 1,000 female population ages 15-19 in the state, while in the U.S. it is 27 per 1,000. In Wisconsin counties, that teen birth rate ranges from 4 per 1,000 to 78 per 1,000.

The data makes it clear that good health is influenced by many factors beyond medical care. This year’s new Rankings State Reports show meaningful gaps in health persist not only by place, but also by race and ethnicity. Looking at differences by place and race offers a more complete picture of health. This year’s analyses show that lack of opportunity, such as education, jobs and affordable housing, disproportionately affects people of color across the nation and within Wisconsin.

“We can’t be a healthy, thriving nation if we continue to leave entire communities and populations behind,” said Richard Besser, MD, RWJF president and CEO. “Every community should use their County Health Rankings data, work together, and find solutions so that all babies, kids, and adults – regardless of their race or ethnicity – have the same opportunities to be healthy.”

According to the 2018 Rankings, the five healthiest counties in Wisconsin, starting with most healthy, are Ozaukee County, followed by Taylor County, Pepin County, Washington County, and Waukesha County. The five counties in the poorest health, starting with least healthy, are Menominee County, Milwaukee County, Sawyer County, Adams County, and Langlade County.

“The time is now to address long-standing challenges like child poverty,” said Sheri Johnson, PhD, director, University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. “This year’s rankings are a call to action to see how these persistent health gaps play out locally, take an honest look at their root causes, and work together to give everyone a fair shot at a healthier life.”

The rankings are available at countyhealthrankings.org.

DOOR COUNTY

• Communicable diseases:  120 cases

• 39 self-inflicted injury hospitalizations

• 1,067 cancer cases

• 133 women smoked during pregnancy, or 15 percent of births in the county

• Total of 870 births

• 112 drug arrests

• 4,792 motor vehicle crash occupancy

• 285 on-road motor vehicle crash-related ER visits

• 74 off-road motor vehicle crash-related ER visits

• 25 percent of residents have not had a recent dental visit

• 3 percent did not get needed health care

• 81 percent of children are immunized

• 58.2 percent of 4th graders are proficient in reading.

• 2,250 (8.3 percent) live in poverty

• Population 65 and above:  7,363: No. living alone, 1,841, or 25 percent

• 4,529 children, 11 of whom were reported abused

• 265 hospitalizations for injuries

• 20 fatal falls by people 65 or older

• Adult obesity:  28 percent

• Excessive drinking:  23 percent

• Severe housing problems:  15 percent

• 24,344 structures in county, with 5,638 built before 1950 (23 percent)

• Total male population:  13,778

2,290 males up to 18

3,406 males 18-44

4,499 males 45-64

3,583 males 65 and above

• Total female population:  14,131

2,197 females up to 18

3,290 females 18-44

4,578 females 45-64

4,066 females 65 and above

KEWAUNEE COUNTY

• Communicable diseases:  96 cases

• 18 self-inflicted injury hospitalizations

• 598 cancer cases

• 92 women smoked during pregnancy, or 12 percent of births in the county

• Total of 783 births

• 59 drug arrests

• 1,811 motor vehicle crash occupancy

• 273 on-road motor vehicle crash-related ER visits

• 57 off-road motor vehicle crash-related ER visits

• 25 percent of residents have not had a recent dental visit

• 3 percent did not get needed health care

• 80.4 percent of children are immunized

• 66 percent of 4th graders are proficient in reading.

•1,526 (7.6 percent) live in poverty

•Population 65 and above:  3,810: No. living alone, 979, or 25.7 percent

• 4,483 children, 3 of whom were reported abused

• 182 hospitalizations for injuries

• 14 fatal falls by people 65 or older

• Adult obesity:  34 percent

• Excessive drinking:  25 percent

• Severe housing problems:  13 percent

• 9,351 structures in county, with 3,215 built before 1950 (34 percent)

• Total male population:  10,520

2,339 males up to 18

3,194 males 18-44

3,124 males 45-64

1,863 males 65 and above

• Total female population:  10,082

2,838 females up to 18

2,838 females 18-44

2,989 females 45-64

2,065 females 65 and above