Study: Calif. Children’s Health, Well-Being Varies Based on Location
The health and well-being of California children varies based on factors such as the counties where they live, according to a new study released by Children Now, the Contra Costa Times reports (Kleffman, Contra Costa Times, 10/9).
Study Details
Children Now assessed the status of children living in all of California's 58 counties in 2012 based on 28 categories (Tucker, San Francisco Chronicle, 10/9).
The categories include:
- Children at a healthy weight;
- Children who have health insurance for the entire year;
- Children who have a usual source of health care;
- Children who visited a dentist in the last year; and
- Schools that have a health center (Children Now scorecard, October 2012).
Healthy WeightÂ
The study found that the counties with the highest percentage of seventh-graders at a healthy weight include:
- Alameda,
- Contra Costa;
- San Mateo; and
- Santa Clara.
The study found significant disparities when measuring healthy weight by race.
For example, in Santa Clara County, 83% of Asian and 82% of white seventh-graders were at a healthy weight, while 68% of black and 63% of Latino seventh-graders were at a healthy weight.
Experts say neighborhoods and income levels contribute to disparities in healthy weights among different races. Experts also say that access to fresh food, safe parks and streets where pedestrians can walk or ride bikes affects children's weight.
Wendel Brunner -- public health director of Contra Costa County -- said that many low-income neighborhoods have a significantly higher density of fast food and conveniences stores that sell sugar-sweetened beverages, which can contribute to childhood obesity (Contra Costa Times, 10/9).
Health Insurance
According to the study, counties with the highest percentage of children who have health insurance for the entire year include:
- Contra Costa;
- Marin;
- San Mateo; and
- Santa Clara.
Source of Health Care
The study found that counties with the highest percentage of children who have a usual source of health care include:
- Santa Clara;
- Solano; and
- Sonoma.
Children With Dental Care
According to the study, counties with the highest percentage of children who visited a dentist in the last year include:
- Marin;
- Nevada; and
- Sonoma.
Schools With Health Centers
The study found that counties with the higheste percentage of schools with health centers include:
- Del Norte;
- Santa Cruz; and
- San Francisco (Children Now scorecard, October 2012).