Survey results set baseline data for health initiatives

Approximately 40 percent of Jefferson County residents partake in vigorous physical activity, according to the recently compiled results of a behavioral risk factor survey funded by the Harkin Wellness Grant awarded to the county.

Forty percent puts the county ahead of Iowa ? at 25 percent ? but still behind the national average, said Ken Daley, the grant?s coordinator. Looking at the survey?s results, he said Iowa?s ?report card? is about a C, while Jefferson County comes in at a B ? a little better, but still with room for improvement.

Daley will be sharing the details of the survey at 7 p.m. today at Fairfield Public Library.

The local survey was adapted from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System used by the Centers for Disease Control. With a 15 percent return on the 2,500 surveys that were sent to randomly selected households, Raul Calderon Jr., who oversaw the survey, said the sample group is large enough to generalize the results for all of Jefferson County.

The purpose of the survey was to establish accurate baseline data to identify areas of concern and evaluate the effectiveness of health initiatives under way or started in the county. The survey is just the first step, Calderon said.

?This study now gives Jefferson County the best data it has ever had on health behaviors and can serve as the baseline for all our future activities,? said Daley.

The survey divides 11 categories ? health status, insurance and access to health care, cardiovascular disease, physical activity, diet and nutrition, overweight and obesity, diabetes, asthma, tobacco use, alcohol use and mental health ? into 33 more specific risk factors. Jefferson County appears to be at a greater risk than Iowa in general for 24 percent of the risk factors and at less of a risk for 33 percent of the risk factors.

Knowing the community already has unique features, including the large number of people practicing Transcendental Meditation, Calderon expected the county to come out ahead in some areas, but he wasn?t entirely sure which.

For the complete article, see the Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, printed edition of The Fairfield Ledger.