The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Butler County falls short in health study

Butler County ranked 50th out of Ohio's 88 counties; Warren County ranked 5th.

Staff graphic by Gregg DeGroat

Lebanon racetrack questions new plan
2/3/12
Court news: See who was indicted from your neighborhood
2/3/12
State group pushing to revamp top county jobs
2/3/12
Liz Claiborne distribution center to close Sept. 1
2/3/12
Kings Island to fill 4,000 summer jobs
2/3/12
> More headlines

By Josh Sweigart, Staff Writer Updated 8:37 AM Thursday, February 18, 2010

HAMILTON — If Butler County were a person, he or she could definitely stand to be a little healthier.

Mr. or Ms. Butler County would live a little longer than average, for an Ohioan; but wouldn’t feel as healthy; would be more likely than average to smoke, drink and be obese; but would fare better than most in access and use of clinical care.

These are the results of a study released Wednesday, Feb. 17, that ranks the health of all the counties in the country by state.

The study is unique in that it includes not only mortality rates, but also numerous health factors, such as smoking, income equality, health insurance, teen pregnancy and even access to healthy food and liquor stores.

Butler County ranked 50th out of 88 counties in “Health Outcomes” — including 41st in longevity of life and 55th in how healthy people feel while alive — and 48th in “Health Factors.”

Health factors included behaviors, the environment, clinical care and social factors.

And the county, according to the study, has several unhealthy behaviors, including an above average percentage of people who smoke (28 percent), binge drink (18 percent) and are obese (30 percent). This put the county 80th in behaviors.

“I think if we use (this study) as a tool and we review the information that we have, this is a good tool for all of us ... to work together as far as improving the ranking,” said Butler County Health Department Director Pat Burg.

The county also fared poorly in the physical environment ranking, having far more than average air pollution days and liquor stores, though it was about average on access to health foods.

The county did better in the clinical care category. “We have clinical care available, we have good access to care and good quality of care,” Burg said.

And in social and economic factors — such as education, poverty levels and social support — Butler County ranked 23rd.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2175 or jsweigart@coxohio.com.

Share this article