Clear Impact logo

Social Factors

Health Disparities

Adults and children in single parent households are at risk for adverse health outcomes such as mental health problems (including substance abuse, depression, and suicide) and unhealthy behaviors such as smoking and excessive alcohol use. Self-reported health has been shown to be worse among lone parents (male and female) than for parents living as couples, even when controlling for socioeconomic characteristics. Mortality risk is also higher among lone parents. Children in single parent households are at greater risk of severe morbidity and all-cause mortality then their peers in two-parent households.

Profile Measure Data Source: United States Census Bureau, American Community Survey

Not only does one’s education level affect his or her health, education can have multi-generational implications that make it an important measure for the health of future generations. Evidence links maternal education with the health of her offspring. Parents’ level of education affects their children’s health directly through resources available to the children, and also indirectly through the quality of schools that the children attend.

Profile Measure Data Source: United States Census Bureau, American Community Survey

The relationship between higher education and improved health outcomes is well known, with years of formal education correlating strongly with improved work and economic opportunities, reduced psychosocial stress, and healthier lifestyles.

Profile Measure Data Source: United States Census Bureau, American Community Survey

Homicides are the number of deaths from assaults. Homicide has been ranked as one of the top five leading causes of death each year for persons aged 1-45 years living in the United States. Homicide is an extreme outcome of the broader public health problem of interpersonal violence. Despite the promising decrease in certain homicide rates, primary prevention efforts against violence should be increased, particularly among young racial/ethnic minority males.

Profile Measure Data Source: Arkansas Department of Health, Health Statistics Branch Query System

High levels of violent crime compromise physical safety and psychological well-being. High crime rates can also deter residents from pursuing healthy behaviors such as exercising outdoors. Exposure to crime and violence has been shown to increase stress, which may exacerbate hypertension and other stress-related disorders and may contribute to obesity prevalence.

Profile Measure Data Source: University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, 2017 County Health Rankings

Injuries are one of the leading causes of death. Unintentional injuries were the 4th leading cause and intentional injuries the 10th leading cause of U.S. mortality in 2015. The leading causes of death among unintentional injuries, respectively were: poisoning, motor vehicle traffic, and falls. Among intentional injuries the leading causes of death are: suicide by firearm, suicide by suffocation, and homicide by firearm, respectively. Unintentional injuries are a substantial contributor to premature death as the leading cause of death for persons under age 45.

Profile Measure Data Source: Arkansas Department of Health, Health Statistics Branch Query System

Why Is This Important?

The education level in Arkansas is lower than the U.S. average for both high school and bachelor’s level degrees or higher.  Only 85 percent of Arkansans 25 years and over have finished high school or an equivalency exam.  In the U.S., 87 percent of adults 25 and over have completed high school. 

The U.S. has the largest prison population in the world. The number of people in prison in Arkansas is growing faster than any other state. Many states are trying to lower the number of people in prisons. This has caused the number of people that are in prisons to go down. But in Arkansas, the number of people in prisons keeps going up. If it continues at the current pace, the number of people in prison in Arkansas will be almost 23,000 in 10 years.

In Arkansas, accidents are the fifth leading cause of death overall, which is the same as in the U.S. Accidents, which are also called unintentional injuries, include suicide, accidental poisoning and motor vehicle accidents. The most common types of accident are motor vehicle crashes, falls, poisonings, fires and burns, and drowning. Adults age 75 and over have the highest death rates from accidents, while children and teens under the age of 20 have the lowest death rates.  However, the number one cause of death for older adults is chronic diseases, while the number one cause of death for children and teenagers is accidents. In fact, accidents are the number one killer of Arkansans between the ages of one and 44.

Measures

Time
Period
Current Actual Value
Current Target Value
Current
Trend
Baseline
% Change
I
2017
9.8 rate per 100,000
2
15%
I
2017
554.9 rate per 100,000
4
18%
I
2017
51.8 rate per 100,000
1
4%

Clear Impact Suite is an easy-to-use, web-based software platform that helps your staff collaborate with external stakeholders and community partners by utilizing the combination of data collection, performance reporting, and program planning.

Scorecard Container Measure Action Actual Value Target Value Tag S A m/d/yy m/d/yyyy