ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond County Health Department has released its 2019 Community Health Assessment which identifies needs in the community and helps plan to address them.

The study used data collected between Aug. 17, 2018 and Oct. 25, 2018, and between October and November 2019 by calling random mobile and landline phones. Those polled mirrored the demographics of Richmond County in order to be truly representative.

The study found that the health problems that impact Richmond County residents the most are obesity, aging, diabetes, cardio/cerebrovascular disease and cancer. What impacts quality of life the most, according to the study, is substance misuse, adolescent health, infant mortality and chronic health conditions. Substance misuse, poor eating habits and lack of exercise were identified as unhealthy behaviors with the most impact on the county.

Richmond County is compared to Montgomery, Anson, Moore, Scotland and Marlboro counties due to their similar demographics, social issues and the fact that residents in these counties often travel back and forth among each other.

Compared to these counties, Richmond County has the third highest rate of children living in poverty with 37%, behind Scotland and Marlboro counties who are tied with 39%. Of the children in poverty in Richmond, 69% are Hispanic, while 48% are black and 29% white.

Richmond County has the second lowest rate of preventable hospital stays out of these comparable counties (Moore has the lowest) and is below the state’s rate. Preventable hospital stays are inpatient stays that could be avoided with better outpatient care and disease management. Richmond had 4,581 preventable hospital stays in 2019, which Marlboro had the highest with 6,559.

Low birth weight is considered a predictor for future health problems, such as infections early on and long-term issues like delayed motor and social development, learning disabilities, lower IQ and chronic conditions. In this statistic, Richmond County was tied for second with 12% of live births being low birth weight. Of those 12% born with low birth weight, the majority (17%) were black. Scotland had the highest percentage of live births with low birth weight with 13%. The statewide percentage is 9%.

Reach Gavin Stone at 910-817-2673 or [email protected].