State’s children making health progress, Winston-Salem Journal (11.07.2011)
RALEIGH —
North Carolina’s children are making progress when it comes to their health, but that will probably change in the long run because of the economic downturn, according to a report issued Thursday.
The 17th annual N.C. Child Health Report Card, released by the N.C. Institute of Medicine and Action for Children North Carolina, gave the state generally favorable ratings in 13 categories that measure the health of its youngest citizens.
The report didn’t assign a single “F” and gave out three “A” grades, in early intervention, environmental health and the low number of communicable diseases among children.
The report takes the most recent data in the categories, generally from 2010, and compares it with the same figures from four or five years ago.
Marlon Hunter, Forsyth County’s health director, could not be reached Thursday evening for comment about the report.
The only category in which North Carolina performs at a below-average level, according to the findings, is in the rates of alcohol, tobacco and drug use by high school-age students.
While reported use of those substances declined slightly in most cases, the report found that nearly a fifth of students reported using marijuana at least once in the previous 30 days, and that more than a third said the same of alcohol.
The report also found that the percentage of adolescents who report having taken prescription drugs without a doctor’s approval has grown from 17.1 percent of respondents to 20.5 percent.
But the most troubling findings may be years down the road as the effects of the economic downturn on measurements like the number of families with health insurance and the percentage of children living in poverty make themselves felt, according to the report.
“The downturn in the economy means that more children than ever before are living in families under significant financial and social stress,” the report said.
“This same downturn has led to state budget reductions in health, education and other services for children and families, creating the paradox of increasing needs and decreasing resources.”