D029 Task 1: Analyzing Population Health Data in Strafford Country
Student Name
Western Governors University
D029 Informatics for Transforming Nursing Care
Prof. Name
Date
Population Health Data Paper
Introduction
Strafford County is situated in southeastern New Hampshire, within the metropolitan area commonly known as “The Seacoast.” This region enjoys advantageous access to various natural attractions, including mountains within an hour’s drive, beaches 30 minutes away, and the major urban center of Boston approximately an hour south. Despite these geographic benefits, Strafford County ranks 8th out of 10 counties in New Hampshire for health outcomes and health factors, placing it in the lower middle range (25-50%) statewide (County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2024). This analysis explores the county’s population health data, sociodemographic profile, current health trends, and proposes targeted interventions aimed at enhancing public health outcomes.
Sociodemographic Profile
What is the demographic makeup of Strafford County compared to the United States?
In 2022, Strafford County had an estimated population of 33,416, with a growth rate of 2.0%, which is notably faster than the national average growth of 0.5%. The population is predominantly White (89.1%), compared to 75.5% nationally, indicating lower ethnic diversity. Minority groups such as African Americans, Asians, and Hispanics constitute less than 10% of the population, while nationwide, minorities make up over 40%.
Education levels in Strafford County are relatively high, with 96.4% of residents holding at least a high school diploma, compared to 89.1% nationally. Labor force participation also surpasses the national average, with 72.1% of individuals aged 16 and older engaged in employment or actively seeking work, versus 63.0% across the U.S. Poverty rates in the county are lower (7.6%) compared to the national rate of 11.5%, and the uninsured population under 65 years old stands at 7.1%, also below the U.S. average of 9.3%. Additionally, Strafford County has a much higher population density, with 1,224.9 persons per square mile, far exceeding the U.S. average of 93.8 persons per square mile.
| Population Characteristic | Strafford County, NH | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Population Estimate | 33,416 | 333,271,411 |
| Population Percent Change | 2.0% | 0.5% |
| Percent Under Age 18 | 17.0% | 21.7% |
| Percent Age 65 and Over | 16.5% | 17.3% |
| Percent Female | 50.3% | 50.4% |
| Percent White Alone | 89.1% | 75.5% |
| Percent Black or African American Alone | 1.3% | 13.6% |
| Percent Asian Alone | 4.0% | 6.3% |
| Percent Hispanic or Latino | 4.2% | 19.1% |
| Language Other than English Spoken at Home | 7.6% | 21.7% |
| Percent Houses with Computer | 95.7% | 94.0% |
| High School Graduate or Higher | 96.4% | 89.1% |
| Percent with Disability (Under 65) | 8.4% | 8.9% |
| Percent without Health Insurance (Under 65) | 7.1% | 9.3% |
| Civilian Labor Force Participation (16+) | 72.1% | 63.0% |
| Females in Civilian Labor Force (16+) | 66.0% | 58.3% |
| Per Capita Income (Past 12 Months) | $52,752 | $41,261 |
| Percent Persons in Poverty | 7.6% | 11.5% |
| Population Density (per square mile) | 1,224.9 | 93.8 |
Note: Data sourced from County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (2024) and U.S. Census Bureau (2024).
Discussion on Sociodemographic Characteristics
Strafford County’s demographic profile reflects a community with relatively rapid growth, higher educational attainment, and greater workforce engagement than national averages. The county enjoys economic advantages demonstrated by lower poverty and uninsured rates. However, the limited ethnic diversity poses potential challenges for delivering culturally competent healthcare and developing inclusive public health policies. The high population density further emphasizes the need for adequate healthcare infrastructure and service availability to meet growing demands.
County Health Outcomes
What are the trends in key health indicators in Strafford County?
Health outcomes in Strafford County present a mixed picture relative to state and national data. For instance, alcohol-impaired driving deaths vary significantly year to year, with a concerning peak in 2013 where 56% of driving fatalities involved alcohol—far exceeding state (36%) and national (31%) percentages.
Regarding sexually transmitted infections (STIs), the county experiences rates higher than both New Hampshire and national averages, although a modest decline has been observed since 2019. The uninsured population has seen improvements, yet remains lower than national levels, ranging between 8% and 15% in the county compared to 10% to 18% nationwide.
The primary care physician ratio in Strafford County is approximately 1450 patients per physician, higher than New Hampshire’s 1100:1 and the national 1300:1 ratios, signaling possible access issues. Unemployment trends reflect economic cycles but show overall improvement. Child poverty rates consistently remain below national averages by 5-10%, and preventable hospital stays have been decreasing, aligning with positive trends statewide and across the country.
Health Factors Influencing Strafford County Compared to State and National Data
How do health factors in Strafford County compare to New Hampshire and the U.S.?
Key determinants of health reveal both strengths and areas of concern for Strafford County:
| Health Factor | Strafford County | New Hampshire | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent Smoking | 16% | 15% | 16% |
| Access to Exercise Opportunities (%) | 91% | 84% | 84% |
| Percent Excessive Drinking | 22% | 20% | 19% |
| Primary Care Physicians (Population:Physician) | 1,580:1 | 1,120:1 | 1,310:1 |
| High School Completion (%) | 94% | 94% | 89% |
| Some College Completion (%) | 72% | 71% | 67% |
| Unemployment Rate (%) | 3.3% | 3.5% | 5.4% |
| Children in Single-Parent Households (%) | 19% | 19% | 25% |
| Social Associations (Per 10,000 population) | 7.2 | 10.3 | 9.1 |
| Children in Poverty (%) | 10% | 9% | 17% |
| Injury Deaths (per 100,000) | 94 | 89 | 76 |
| Children Eligible for Free/Reduced Lunch (%) | 27% | 21% | 53% |
| Air Pollution (PM2.5) | 6.2 | 5.3 | 7.4 |
| Severe Housing Problems (%) | 15% | 14% | 17% |
Note: Data from County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (2024).
What are the key successes and challenges identified in health factors for Strafford County?
Strafford County excels in providing access to exercise opportunities (91%), educational attainment, and maintains low unemployment rates. Conversely, the community faces challenges with excessive alcohol consumption (22%), a high patient-to-primary care physician ratio indicating potential healthcare access constraints, elevated injury death rates, and fewer social associations per capita. Public health efforts should prioritize these areas to foster better health outcomes.
Analysis and Proposal for Public Health Improvement
What major health concern requires immediate attention in Strafford County?
A critical issue in Strafford County is the rising rate of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), particularly chlamydia among adolescents and young adults aged 15-24. Chlamydia often shows minimal symptoms, leading to undiagnosed transmission and serious health consequences, including infertility (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2022). Despite a slight decline since 2019, the county’s chlamydia rate remains roughly 50% higher than the state average, underscoring the urgency for targeted public health interventions.
Proposed Program: “My Friend’s Place”
How can public health services address the STI challenge in Strafford County?
The recommended intervention is the establishment of a confidential, youth-friendly clinic named “My Friend’s Place.” This clinic would offer anonymous, accessible STI testing and treatment tailored specifically to adolescents and young adults. Services would include same-day testing, free condoms, and educational materials designed for various learning preferences. The clinic’s discreet location aims to minimize stigma and encourage utilization among the target population.
Implementation and Stakeholder Engagement
Who should be involved in planning and executing the program?
A multidisciplinary team is essential for successful implementation. This includes advanced practice nurses and supervising physicians for clinical oversight, building managers for site selection, pharmacists to ensure medication adherence, laboratory technicians for prompt testing, social workers and nurse educators for patient support, and grant writers to secure funding. Future phases should incorporate IT specialists to develop a dedicated app and include representatives from the target demographic, with guardian consent for minors, to provide ongoing feedback and guide program refinement.
Public Awareness and Engagement Strategy
What strategies will promote awareness and increase utilization of “My Friend’s Place”?
The program will utilize technology to enhance engagement, deploying a smartphone application that provides clinic information, educational content, and options to order free STI protection. Social media campaigns targeting platforms with high adolescent engagement—such as YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook—will be integral to outreach efforts. These channels have been shown to be effective for health promotion within this age group (Vogels, Gelles-Watnick, & Massarat, 2022; Auxier & Anderson, 2021).
Program Evaluation
How will the success of “My Friend’s Place” be measured?
Program effectiveness will be assessed through several metrics, including monthly clinic attendance, STI test results visualized with line graphs, and anonymous patient satisfaction surveys represented with pie charts. Long-term evaluation will track changes in county-wide STI rates compared to state and national data, with detailed analysis by specific infections and geographic areas to identify outbreak patterns and intervention impact. This data will support ongoing funding and program scaling efforts.
References
Auxier, B., & Anderson, M. (2021, April). Social media use in 2021. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2021/04/07/social-media-use-in-2021/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]. (2022). Chlamydia – CDC basic factsheet. https://www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia/stdfact-chlamydia.htm
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]. (2021). Sexually transmitted infections prevalence, incidence, and cost estimates in the United States. https://www.cdc.gov/std/statistics/prevalence-incidence-cost-2020.htm
County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. (2024). Strafford County. https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/explore-health-rankings/new-hampshire/strafford?year=2023
D029 Task 1: Analyzing Population Health Data in Strafford Country
U.S. Census Bureau. (2024). QuickFacts: United States. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/dovercitynewhampshire,US/PST045223
Vogels, E., Gelles-Watnick, R., & Massarat, N. (2022, August). Teens, social media and technology 2022. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/08/10/teens-social-media-and-technology-2022/