Health Resource Capacity Assessment for Putnam, Connecticut, May 2001

Health Needs/Barriers to Care: Health Status Indicators

In 1991, the Centers for Disease Control developed a set of 18 health status indicators to track the general health of the population. ⁷⁵ The indicators were chosen to help communities track the health status of residents. Following those is an analysis of other indicators relevant to Putnam, suggested by research or study participants. The health status of Putnam residents on many of the indicators are discussed in more detail elsewhere in this report. An important caveat to remember when considering these data is that because Putnam is a small town, numbers are very small, particularly when measuring infrequent occurrences. This leads to wide variations in rates and what appears to be a very high or low rate may be an artifact. Whenever possible, we have used data with larger sample sizes, either by averaging over several years or choosing related indicators with higher frequency.

Putnam's age adjusted mortality rate is significantly higher than the state average 799.0 - compared to 631.1 per 100,000 residents. ⁷⁶  The rate of deaths due to cancer in Putnam is at or slightly below the state average; between 1990 and 1994 there were 111 cancer deaths among males in Putnam (based on age distribution 122 would have been expected) and there were 128 cancer deaths among females (exactly as would be predicted by age alone). The crude rates (not age adjusted) for cancer deaths from 1995 to 1998 are also very similar to state averages. ⁷⁷  Between 1989 and 1991 there were no motor vehicle-related deaths in Putnam.  ⁷⁸  In 1997 there were only 5 motor vehicle accidents in Putnam total, a rate very similar to the statewide average. ⁷⁹  There were no homicides in Putnam between 1989 and 1991. ⁸⁰   The rate of violent crime offenses in Putnam is considerably lower than in the rest of the state (averaging 1.4 per 1000 residents for the years 1992, 1994, 1996 and 1998 vs. 4.26 for the state). ⁸¹  Putnam's age-adjusted rate of deaths due to cardiovascular disease is approximately equal to the state average (Putnam 265.6 vs. state 206.8 per 100,000 1989 to 1991). ⁸²  There were 9 breast cancer deaths in Putnam in 1997, a rate not significantly different than the statewide rate. ⁸³  There were no suicides in Putnam between 1989 and 1991. ⁸⁴  There was one infant death among 117 total births in Putnam from 1998-1999. ⁸⁵  Nine cases of AIDS have been reported in Putnam residents from 1980 through 2000. ⁸⁶  There were no reported cases of syphilis in Putnam in 1996 or 1997. ⁸⁷  There was only one case of tuberculosis among Putnam residents between 1995 and April 2001. ⁸⁸  There were no cases of measles (Rubeola) reported anywhere in Connecticut in either 2000 or through 4/7/01. ⁸⁹  Air quality in Windham County is better than other parts of the state-the entire state is designated as a non-attainment area for Ozone. Windham County is labeled by the Environmental Protection Agency as serious non-attainment for Ozone targets, but has reached attainment for CO level targets. ⁹⁰  In 1998, of 111 total births 23 received non-adequate prenatal care (20.9%), and 21 received late or no prenatal care (19.1%) compared to the state rates of 12.2% and 14.4%, respectively. ⁹¹  Of the 111 births in Putnam in 1998, 6 were low birthweight, a rate of 5.5%, compared to the state rate of 7.8%. ⁹²

Putnam providers have noted an increase in Hepatitis C rates recently and a high incidence of abnormal pap smears due to papillomavirus infection. Hepatitis C rates were not available for this study. While rates of HIV infection and most STDs are low in Putnam, providers noted that given the high rate of unprotected sex, it is inevitable that STDs will become an issue for Putnam. Statements were made in focus groups that Putnam is not ready for that increase, and a great deal of public education should be occurring now. ⁹³

Putnam's rate of injuries reported to the state Workers' Compensation Commission is consistently higher than the statewide average, although not markedly higher. ⁹⁴

Overall, only the overall mortality indicator is significantly higher than the statewide average. The rate of violent crime in Putnam is much lower than the statewide rate and remained consistently low over the entire 1990's.

Footnotes

75. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health objectives for the nation. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 1991; Vol. 40., No.27:1-3.
76. "Looking Toward 2000: An Assessment of Health Status and Health Services", Department of Public Health, February 1999, "Health Status Indicators in Connecticut Rural Towns", the Parisky Group, February 1999.
77. Connecticut Department of Public Health, Connecticut Tumor Registry, March 1998, April 2000, April 2001.
78. "Health Status Indicators in Connecticut Rural Towns", the Parisky Group, February 1999.
79. Connecticut State Department of Transportation, Connecticut Accident Summary Tables, May 3, 1999.
80. "Health Status Indicators in Connecticut Rural Towns", the Parisky Group, February 1999.
81. State of Connecticut Social Indicator Data, Putnam, DMHAS, 1/30/01.
82. "Health Status Indicators in Connecticut Rural Towns", the Parisky Group, February 1999.
83. Connecticut Department of Public Health, Connecticut Tumor Registry, April 2000.
84. "Health Status Indicators in Connecticut Rural Towns", the Parisky Group, February 1999.
85. Connecticut Department of Public Health, 5/10/2000.
86. Connecticut Department of Public Health, 1/31/2000.
87. "Health Status Indicators in Connecticut Rural Towns", the Parisky Group, February 1999.
88. Connecticut Department of Public Health, TB Control Program, 4/27/01.
89. Provisional cases of selected notifiable diseases, United States, CDC, 4/7/01.
    
90. US Air Quality Nonattainment Areas, Environmental Protection Agency, 7/31/00.
91. Connecticut Department of Public Health, Connecticut Resident Births, Vital Statistics, 1998.
92. Connecticut Department of Public Health, Connecticut Resident Births, Vital Statistics, 1998.
93. Focus group
94. Statistical Division, Connecticut Workers' Compensation Division, 4/18/01, Connecticut Department of Public Health, US Census.