Prince George's County Ranks Low on Health Outcomes

New data show County has high levels of air pollution, shortage of primary care physicians and high numbers of uninsured adults.

BALTIMORE, Dec. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Prince George's County ranks 17th among the 24 Maryland counties in health outcomes, according to data compiled by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released in a report today by Maryland Nonprofits. 

Prince George's highest ranking was 12th in the state for healthy behaviors, with lower than average rates of adult smoking and drinking.  However, Prince George's ranked 23rd out of 24 counties in its environment, with high levels of air pollution and fewer recreational facilities than other counties.

Perhaps the most important health outcome for residents is related to years of potential life lost before age 75 per 100,000 residents.  Prince George's rate is 8,374 years of potential life lost, compared to a Maryland average of 7,574 and national average of 5,564.  Prince George's has a high percentage of babies born with low birth weight, as well as a high level of sexually transmitted diseases.  Obesity is a challenge for one out of every three adults in the county.

"We hope policy makers, providers and community organizations will use this information to work together and improve the health of Prince George's County's residents," said Neil Bergsman, Director of the Maryland Budget and Tax Policy Institute who co-authored the report.  "It is interesting that this report also shows that Maryland falls below the national average in most of these measures, so the entire state has work to do."

The report on Prince George's County's health measures was sponsored by the Community Foundation for Prince George's County, The Consumer Health Foundation, and Kaiser Permanente. 

Data on health rankings was drawn largely from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and University of Wisconsin's County Health Rankings:  http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/maryland/prince-georges, as well as other sources.

This report and other research on health and human services in Prince George's County are available at:  www.marylandnonprofits.org.

SOURCE Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations