To improve health in the community, we must understand the
factors that cause preventable death and disability and know
which of those factors is most responsive to change.
An individual's lifestyle or health-related behaviors; emotional health; the surrounding environment; the health care system; and genetic factors, all influence whether a person will have a major health problem. As we just saw, lifestyle and health-related behaviors are the leading contributer to illness and premature death in our community.
Lack of access to health care, especially preventive care such as cancer screening, prenatal care, and hypertension control, also contributes significantly to sickness and preventable death. More and more people, including working people, are losing health care insurance because of changes in the economy. In a survey conducted by the department in 1996, 14 percent of Ingham County residents said they lacked any kind of health insurance, including commercial or government paid programs. One-third of these people said they had sought medical care in the past year, but had been unable to get it because of the cost.
Exposure to toxic and hazardous materials in the environment has a substantial impact on preventable death. The section of this report on the Bureau of Environmental Health details the Department's involvement with environmental health issues.
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