By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News
More Kentucky children than ever have health insurance, fewer Kentucky teens are getting pregnant, fewer mothers are smoking during pregnancy, and the state has fewer low-birthweight babies – but that's not the case in every county, according to the annual Kentucky Kids Count report.
The report, released Tuesday by Kentucky Youth Advocates, is part of the 27th annual release of the County Data Book, which provides data on overall child well-being through 17 measures in four areas: economic security, education, community strengths, and health and family.
Instead of ranking counties from top to bottom for each of these measures, as in the past, this year's report shows whether the outcomes have improved or worsened in the last five years.
"Looking at data change over time illuminates areas of progress and areas of needed policy change and investment," KYA Executive Director Terry Brooks said in a news release. “If all of our kids—no matter their families’ income, skin color, or ZIP code—are to grow up to be healthy and productive citizens, their needs must be prioritized.”
The report also shows how many Kentucky children would be affected if the state or county were able to improve each measurement by 10 percent. KYA's hope is that this will help the state and individual counties see what areas need attention the most.
Being born too early or with low birthweight increases a baby's risk of health complications, including a 25 percent increased risk of dying in the first year of life.
For example, Lee County has the highest rate of smoking during pregnancy (47.7 percent) and one of the highest rates of low-birthweight babies (12.2 percent). A 10 percent improvement of these measures would result in 11 fewer Lee County babies being exposed to smoke before birth each year, and three fewer babies being born with a low birthweight.
On the other end of the spectrum, only 10.2 percent of mothers smoke during pregnancy in Oldham County, and only 7.4 percent of the babies born there have a low birthweight.
The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, which is leading the state's newly formed Coalition for a Smokefree Tomorrow, says it's ready and willing to help counties decrease their smoking rates.
“The foundation is committed to working with advocates and local communities to promote smoke-free ordinances, ensure that expectant mothers have easy access to effective tobacco treatment, and raise the state tax on cigarettes to reduce youth smoking," Ben Chandler, president and CEO of the foundation, said in the news release.
Related encouraging news is that the number of teen births in the state continues to drop, to 34.6 per 1,000 in this year's report, down from 37.9 in last year's report and 48.9 five years ago. The national teen-pregnancy rate is 22.3 per 1,000.
The report says 16 Kentucky counties had teen-birth rates of 60 or more per 1,000 (6 percent), with Wolfe County leading the way at 80.9 per 1,000. Its rate five years ago was 68.2 per 1,000.
Only five Kentucky counties had rates of less than 20 teen births per 1,000 (2 percent). Oldham County had the lowest rate, 8.2 per 1,000.
Other encouraging news is that almost all Kentucky's children (96 percent) have health insurance. The report says at least one in 10 Kentucky children are covered by Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program, called K-CHIP in Kentucky.
The report stresses the importance of making sure Medicaid and CHIP program are sustainable – including the expansion of Medicaid under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to those who earn up to 138 percent of the federal poverty line. It notes, "Children are more likely to have health insurance when their parents do."
The report also says coverage for children "boosts family financial stability due to reduced out-of-pocket costs for health care and increased participation in other supports for which they are eligible, such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program," or food stamps.
Kentucky will run out of KCHIP money in about five months if CHIP is not renewed. A Kaiser Family Foundation report shows that the federal budget for CHIP was about $14 billion in 2016 and Kentucky's federal share was around $243 million. (For a county-by-county list of KCHIP and Medicaid enrollment, click here.)
The report also called for more outreach and enrollment efforts, and said the state should stop dis-enrolling children for incorrect or missing addresses.
The number of young adults with health insurance in Kentucky is around 77 percent. Robertson County, at 91 percent, has the highest rate; Lee County, at 41 percent, has the lowest.
Other key findings about Kentucky's children in the report:
The Kids Count Data Center is also available for a deeper dive into the data. It offers a profile sheet for every county, and allows you to create maps, graphs, and make comparisons.
The 2017 County Data Book was made possible with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation and local sponsors Passport Health Plan, Delta Dental of Kentucky and Kosair Charities.
Kentucky Health News
The report, released Tuesday by Kentucky Youth Advocates, is part of the 27th annual release of the County Data Book, which provides data on overall child well-being through 17 measures in four areas: economic security, education, community strengths, and health and family.
Instead of ranking counties from top to bottom for each of these measures, as in the past, this year's report shows whether the outcomes have improved or worsened in the last five years.
"Looking at data change over time illuminates areas of progress and areas of needed policy change and investment," KYA Executive Director Terry Brooks said in a news release. “If all of our kids—no matter their families’ income, skin color, or ZIP code—are to grow up to be healthy and productive citizens, their needs must be prioritized.”
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| Part of Russell County's profile, one of 120 from Kentucky available at the Kids Count Data Center |
For example, the report shows Kentucky has seen a 13 percent decrease in the rate of births to mothers who smoked during pregnancy, dropping to 20.6 percent in 2013-15 from 23.8 percent in 2008-10. The national rate is 8.4 percent, according to the 2017 State Health Assessment.
If 10 percent fewer women smoked during pregnancy, 3,533 fewer babies would be exposed to cigarette smoke before birth, which would result in fewer babies with low birthweights. Such babies (less than 5½ pounds) account for 8.7 percent of Kentucky births.
If 10 percent fewer women smoked during pregnancy, 3,533 fewer babies would be exposed to cigarette smoke before birth, which would result in fewer babies with low birthweights. Such babies (less than 5½ pounds) account for 8.7 percent of Kentucky births.
Being born too early or with low birthweight increases a baby's risk of health complications, including a 25 percent increased risk of dying in the first year of life.
On the other end of the spectrum, only 10.2 percent of mothers smoke during pregnancy in Oldham County, and only 7.4 percent of the babies born there have a low birthweight.
The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, which is leading the state's newly formed Coalition for a Smokefree Tomorrow, says it's ready and willing to help counties decrease their smoking rates.
“The foundation is committed to working with advocates and local communities to promote smoke-free ordinances, ensure that expectant mothers have easy access to effective tobacco treatment, and raise the state tax on cigarettes to reduce youth smoking," Ben Chandler, president and CEO of the foundation, said in the news release.
Related encouraging news is that the number of teen births in the state continues to drop, to 34.6 per 1,000 in this year's report, down from 37.9 in last year's report and 48.9 five years ago. The national teen-pregnancy rate is 22.3 per 1,000.
The report says 16 Kentucky counties had teen-birth rates of 60 or more per 1,000 (6 percent), with Wolfe County leading the way at 80.9 per 1,000. Its rate five years ago was 68.2 per 1,000.
Only five Kentucky counties had rates of less than 20 teen births per 1,000 (2 percent). Oldham County had the lowest rate, 8.2 per 1,000.
The report stresses the importance of making sure Medicaid and CHIP program are sustainable – including the expansion of Medicaid under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to those who earn up to 138 percent of the federal poverty line. It notes, "Children are more likely to have health insurance when their parents do."
The report also says coverage for children "boosts family financial stability due to reduced out-of-pocket costs for health care and increased participation in other supports for which they are eligible, such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program," or food stamps.
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill to fund CHIP for the next five years, but it includes funding provisions that likely won't pass the Senate. A Senate committee has passed a CHIP bill, but without provisions for funding. The deadline for reauthorization was Sept. 30.
Kentucky will run out of KCHIP money in about five months if CHIP is not renewed. A Kaiser Family Foundation report shows that the federal budget for CHIP was about $14 billion in 2016 and Kentucky's federal share was around $243 million. (For a county-by-county list of KCHIP and Medicaid enrollment, click here.)
The report also called for more outreach and enrollment efforts, and said the state should stop dis-enrolling children for incorrect or missing addresses.
The number of young adults with health insurance in Kentucky is around 77 percent. Robertson County, at 91 percent, has the highest rate; Lee County, at 41 percent, has the lowest.
Other key findings about Kentucky's children in the report:
- Grandparents and other relatives raise 7 percent, the highest rate in the nation.
- Almost half live with families that are considered low-income (annual income of $48,072 or less for a family of four).
- One-fourth live in poverty (annual income of $24,036 or less for a family of four).
- 12 percent live in deep poverty (annual income of $12,018 or less for a family of four).
- 20 percent live in food-insecure households, and food insecurity is widespread; only five counties have fewer than 15 percent of children in food-insecure households.
- In 24 counties, at least a fourth of the children living in a food-insecure home.
- Only half of Kentucky's children are ready for kindergarten or are proficient readers in the fourth grade, and fewer than half of them are proficient in mathematics in eighth grade.
- Almost 90 percent graduate from high school on time.
- 41 per 1,000 are in "out-of-home" care, and the rate increased in 88 counties.
- 26 per 1,000 are incarcerated in the juvenile-justice system, a 57 percent decrease.
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| Overall Kids Count chart for Kentucky shows previous and current scores in four major areas |
The 2017 County Data Book was made possible with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation and local sponsors Passport Health Plan, Delta Dental of Kentucky and Kosair Charities.
Great post!
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