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4 | Orange County Community Health Assessment - Executive Summary
<br />Top Ten Community Concerns
<br />The “Top Ten” concerns of county residents who participated in community forums are listed below, in the
<br />order of the number of votes they received:
<br />Access to Health Care, Insurance, and Information
<br />Access includes availability of health care services;
<br />affordability of services and health insurance; ability to
<br />navigate and understand the health system; physical
<br />access to services (including transportation and
<br />disability access); and information about health care.
<br />Chronic Disease, Exercise, and Nutrition
<br />Chronic disease refers to diseases that are long-lasting
<br />in nature. Physical activity and nutrition significantly
<br />contribute to good physical health. Regular physical
<br />activity and good nutrition can help prevent cancer,
<br />type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and respiratory
<br />ailments, and can help one maintain a healthy body
<br />weight.
<br />Mental Health
<br />Mental health refers to a wide range of conditions that
<br />affect one’s mood, thinking, and behavior. Broad classes
<br />of mental illness include mood disorders (depression,
<br />bipolar disorder), anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders
<br />(schizophrenia), eating disorders, personality disorders,
<br />and addictive behaviors/substance abuse disorders.
<br />Transportation
<br />Accessible and affordable transportation is an issue for
<br />those with limited incomes, physical or mental
<br />disabilities, or living in rural areas. Transportation
<br />affects one’s ability to access services, employment,
<br />healthy foods, recreation, and other resources.
<br />Expanding active transportation (walking and biking)
<br />options and safety can help prevent disease, reduce
<br />motor vehicle-related injury and deaths, improve
<br />environmental health, and improve equal access to
<br />resources.
<br />Built Environment
<br />This includes human-made structures such as housing,
<br />recreational facilities, sidewalks, streets, businesses,
<br />schools, parks, playgrounds and, more broadly, land use
<br />patterns. The built environment impacts both physical
<br />and mental health.
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<br />6 Cancer
<br />Cancer continued to be the leading cause of death in
<br />Orange County in 2010. It is estimated that nearly 80%
<br />of cancers are due to factors that can be prevented:
<br />tobacco use, poor nutrition, lack of physical activity,
<br />exposure to radiation, and other environmental
<br />factors. Many cancers are highly treatable with
<br />advanced screening.
<br />Substance Abuse
<br />This refers to the harmful or hazardous use of alcohol,
<br />tobacco, and other illegal drugs (including the misuse
<br />and illegal use of prescription drugs). It is related to
<br />underage drinking, impaired driving, mental health,
<br />addiction, and injury related to alcohol and drugs.
<br />Environmental Health
<br />This includes air quality; drinking, and ground water
<br />quality; food safety and protection; sewer systems; solid
<br />waste management, and lead hazards.
<br />Oral Health
<br />This not only includes tooth and gum health, but other
<br />health conditions that may result from poor oral health.
<br />Issues in oral health include availability of affordable
<br />dental insurance, access to regular and preventive care,
<br />and population-specific issues like children’s dental
<br />health, increasing refugee population needs, and
<br />linguistic barriers.
<br />Injury
<br />This is the chief cause of death and disability for people
<br />under age 44 and may be unintentional like those
<br />resulting from motor vehicle crashes, falls, burns,
<br />poisonings, drowning, etc.; or violent and intentional
<br />including sexual assault, child abuse, partner violence,
<br />homicide, and suicide. Like most chronic disease,
<br />injuries are preventable.
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<br />Top Concerns
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