Community Health Risks: Bergen County
Bergen County has the highest population in New Jersey State. This assessment seeks to find out the factors affecting the health of Bergen community residents. According to the US Census Bureau (2014), the population of Bergen County in the 2010 census was 905,116, with 2012 estimates noting an increase in population to 918,888. As this Census Bureau report further highlights, in 2012, 60.7% residents were Caucasian, 6.7% were African Americans, 0.4% were American Indians, 15.5% were Asians, 0.1% were native Hawaiians and 17.3% were Hispanics. Further, 28.5% of Bergen County population was foreign-born in 2010, while 36.7% of the residents did not speak English at home (Community Health Improvement Partnership (CHIP; 2013). The number of Korean-born individuals in this county is higher than in any other county in the United States at 6.4% (CHIP, 2013). As the report by the Census Bureau further notes, between 2008 and 2012, the median household income in Bergen County was $84,255 and the individuals living below poverty level in the same period were 6.6%. The county has a high median household income but some residents live in poverty. For instance, compared to other counties in the US, as highlighted by Population Health Institute (PHI; 2012), Bergen was among the top forty counties in median household incomes in 2011. The county’s unemployment rate is also not as high as that of the entire state. For example, in 2012, Bergen County’s unemployment rate was 7.7% while that of New Jersey State was 9.3% (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014). Further, 83% of the residents have health insurance but those from low-income households and ethnic minority groups are not likely to be insured (PHI, 2012). Most of those who are insured are enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid programs.
The rate of air pollution is low in Bergen County. For instance, in 2012, the median air quality index reported by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA; 2013) in the County was 32. This was the lowest index in the State of New Jersey with highest value being recorded in Essex County. Throughout the year 2012, as the EPA report further shows, Bergen County did not record a day when the air quality was unhealthy for the general population, only recording four days when the air quality was unhealthy for sensitive individuals such as those with respiratory problems. The community residents get water from United Water. Water may be contaminated by microbial contaminants, pesticides, organic chemicals and inorganic and radioactive contaminants (United Water New Jersey, 2013). However, the water is treated and filtered before distribution to homes (United Water New Jersey, 2013). Therefore, the residents have access to safe water.
Weather conditions in Bergen County, however, pose serious health problems to the residents. Cold weather can cause hypothermia and frostbite. Furthermore, ice and snow during winter can cause falls and car accidents. Moreover, there are drowning hazards in the community since there are streams, lakes and rivers in the county. Deer ticks found in the county also spread Lyme disease through bites. These ticks feed on wild animals such as deer and mice but can also be found on livestock and humans. Some of the poisonous plants found in Bergen include poison sumac, poison ivy and poison oak. In Bergen County, building codes are enforced to ensure the safety of the residents. Moreover, the county has waste disposal programs to enhance sanitation. Residents face the risk of road accidents. The number of fatal accidents in 2008 was 24 with 9,009 injuries from car accidents being recorded (City-Data, 2012). Bergen county residents have a high sense of security. The rates of crime are lower compared to other counties and the entire New Jersey State. In 2010, the rates of violent crimes and property crimes per 100,000 residents in Bergen County were 101 and 1, 276 respectively in comparison to 299 and 1,972 respectively in New Jersey (FBI, 2010).
According to the 2010 census, individuals aged between 60-64 years in Bergen County were 52,989, 65-69 years were 38,357, 70-74 years were 29,503, 75-79 years were 25,237, 80-84 years were 21,727 and those aged 85 years and above were 22,279 (US Census Bureau, 2014). Generally, the attitudes towards aging are positive and there are numerous services to help adults who are 60 years and above to live longer and with dignity and independence. Compared to the entire New Jersey state, the Bergen County population is older. Individuals aged over 65 years were 15.1% of the county population in 2010 while the percentage of individuals in this age group in the New Jersey state was 13.5%. In the same year, the number of households with an individual aged 65 years or above was 29% in Bergen County, compared to the entire state with 26% (CHIP, 2013). According to the 2010 census, 469, 154 Bergen County residents were female while 435, 962 were male. There are efforts in the community to raise awareness about mental health. Homosexuality is allowed in the county and homosexuals are allowed to adopt children. Bergen county residents mainly seek treatment from health centers and hospitals and they take medication prescribed by professional healthcare providers. In Bergen County, high school graduation rates are high. In comparison to the nation’s 87.3% individuals with a high school diploma, the percentage in Bergen County was 90.9% in 2010 (Population Health Institute, 2012). Bergen County is one of the richest communities in the US and its population is mainly non-Hispanic White. Moreover, the county has the largest percentage of older individuals than any other county in New Jersey State or the entire nation (CHIP, 2013). Residents in this county are also more likely to be employed and well-educated. Furthermore, most individuals have access to recreational facilities and healthy food. The rate of crime in Bergen County is lower compared to the state (FBI, 2010). As a result of these factors, Bergen County has a good health status in comparison to the state and the entire nation. It is one of the healthiest counties in New Jersey. However, not every area in the county has good health indicators. In some parts of the county, residents, mainly ethnic minorities, have low incomes and face cultural barriers (New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, 2013). They also have poor access to recreational facilities and healthy foods. Individuals in these areas experience higher rates of crime and unemployment. As a result of these factors, these individuals’ social, financial and health status is complicated and consequently, they face challenges in access to healthcare services.
There is a high risk of natural disasters in the county. Residents are at a risk for earthquakes, tornados, volcanoes, cold weather and floods (City-Data, 2012). The elderly and individuals with disabilities are more likely to be affected by disasters because their response may be slow. Some of the communicable diseases that occur as a result of a disaster are waterborne diseases, measles, acute respiratory infections, malaria, dengue and tetanus. People with HIV and TB in Bergen County may make disaster recovery difficult in case of emergencies. The county is well prepared for disasters such as Hurricane Sandy which occurred in 2012. Some of Hurricane sandy victims were traumatized and their mental health is at risk. Many victims lost their properties, especially homes. Bergen residents are at a higher risk of earthquakes than the entire state and nation (City-Data, 2012). The Bergen county community is cohesive and there is no potential for conflicts which may cause disasters such as war. Among the low-income community members, cases of mental health problems, depression and anxiety are high. Drug abuse is also prevalent in the community (PHI, 2012). A number of members of all ethnic groups were found to be binge drinkers and they were mainly young adults. A number of residents used marijuana and prescription drugs. Driving under the influence of drugs is also common.
Data Interpretation
Individuals from low-income, minority background or those who were unemployed had higher rates of health problems and mortality than the rest. The rate of births in Bergen County per 1000 population was 11.7 as from 2000 to 2006 (City-Data, 2012).The rate of infant death from 1000 live births during the same periods was 3.9. In 2013, HIV prevalence in the county was 231 while in the entire New Jersey state it was 497. Infant mortality was 337 and 549 in Bergen county and New Jersey respectively (City-Data, 2012). Child mortality was 25 in the county and 42 in the state. Uninsured adults comprised of 18% in the county and 19% in the state. The rate of chronic conditions increased with age and older adults were at a higher risk.
Bergen County Community Genogram
Genogram Interpretation
Bergen county community comprises of families with different characteristics and connected in different ways. The genogram represents four different families in the community. Grace’s and John’s families are neighbors. Matthew’s family is connected to John’s family through James’ very close friendship with Tom. Matthew’s and Grace’s families are connected through Michelle’s friendship with Paul and also because Joyce and Mark work together at the community hospital. Francis’ and Matthew’s families are connected because Francis’ granddaughter is Joyce’s babysitter. Grace’s, John’s and Matthew’s families are connected because they all visit the same adult care center.
The community has the largest proportion of the older population. People in their late seventies and eighties such as Mary, John, Grace, Matthew, Elizabeth and Jane are still alive. The attitudes towards the elderly are good and there are services for them such as adult day care centers. Chronic conditions in the community increase with age. Grace, Matthew and Elizabeth are suffering from hypertension, diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease respectively. Matthew and Elizabeth are divorced.
There is a problem of drug abuse and alcoholism and it causes many problems in families. George is an alcoholic and he physically abuses his wife Jennifer. As a result, Jennifer is suffering from depression. Alex has an alcoholism problem and consequently, he is estranged from his wife and has neglected his two children. Substance abuse is more common among the youth. Paul and Michelle are students and close friends and they take drugs and alcohol.
The employment rate in the community is high and this means the educational levels are also high. Mark and Joyce work in the community hospital where communicable diseases and other conditions affecting the community are treated. Tom works in the office of emergency services in Bergen County. Therefore, the community is well prepared for natural disasters. Diana works for United Water where the water is treated before it is distributed to the community. Few individuals are unemployed and their living standards are low.
Infant mortality is common among the poor. For example, George’s younger child, Amber, is deceased. Unemployment and drug abuse problems are more rampant in poor households such as Francis’ family. Francis is an alcoholic and his son Mason has serious mental problems and drug abuse and is also unemployed. As a result, Mason’s daughter has not been able to pursue education and she is working as Joyce’s babysitter. Mason’s daughter is also involved in a sexually abusive love affair with Arnold who abuses drugs, and they have a daughter. People in the poor regions also have no access to the social facilities in the community. For example, Francis and his wife are elderly but they are not visiting the adult day care center.
Community Diagnosis
Even though Bergen county is generally wealthier and healthier than most of the counties in New Jersey, some of the community residents face a number of health risks. Low-income earners as well as those who are unemployed are limited by finances and are unable to access healthcare. Moreover, most of these individuals do not have health insurance. Ethnic minorities also face language barriers and this hinders their access to care. Substance abuse and mental health are also common in the community and they expose the community to more health risks. Air pollution also exposes residents to respiratory illnesses. The growing number of elderly individuals needs improved care to be able to manage their chronic conditions. Lack of access to healthy food and recreational facilities among low-income individuals can cause nutritional problems such as obesity. The homeless individuals are also exposed to health problems. There is a high risk to natural disasters in the county and proper structures need to be established to withstand them and protect residents from communicable diseases. Residents are also faced with the problem of road accidents mainly due to bad weather and driving under the influence of drugs. Therefore, there is a need to implement effective interventions to address the community health problems identified during this assessment.
References
City-Data. (2012). Bergen County, New Jersey. Retrieved from http://www.city-data.com/county/Bergen_County-NJ.html
Community Health Improvement Partnership (CHIP). (2013). Bergen County Community Health Needs Assessment 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2012 from http://www.cityofenglewood.org/filestorage/1441/1468/2265/1487/BC_2013_Community_Health_Needs_Assessment.pdf
New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDLWD). (2013). County community fact book: Bergen County Edition. Retrieved 5 March 2014 from http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lpa/pub/factbook/berfct.pdf
Population Health Institute. (2012). County Health Rankings and roadmaps: a healthier nation, county by county. Retrieved 5 March 2014 from http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/sites/default/files/states/CHR2012_NJ.pdf
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). 2010. Crime in the United States. Retrieved 5 March 2014 from http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010
United Water New Jersey. (2013). Water quality. Retrieved from http://www.unitedwater.com/uploadedfiles/localized_content/uw_new_jersey/20/w_m11_newjersey.pdf
US Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2014). Local area unemployment statistics. Retrieved 5 March 2014 from http://www.bls.gov/web/laus/laumstrk.htm
US Census Bureau (2014). State and county quickfacts: Bergen County, New Jersey. Retrieved from http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/34/34003.html
US Environmental Protection Agency. (2013). Air quality index report. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/airdata/ad_rep_aqi.html#area
Last Completed Projects
| topic title | academic level | Writer | delivered |
|---|
Are you looking for a similar paper or any other quality academic essay? Then look no further. Our research paper writing service is what you require. Our team of experienced writers is on standby to deliver to you an original paper as per your specified instructions with zero plagiarism guaranteed. This is the perfect way you can prepare your own unique academic paper and score the grades you deserve.
Use the order calculator below and get started! Contact our live support team for any assistance or inquiry.
[order_calculator]