Larimer County was ranked the seventh healthiest in Colorado in a study that looks at multiple societal and health factors, but health officials also are concentrating on areas that need work including an “alarming” increase in sexually transmitted infections.
“There’s a lot of things we should celebrate, but there are some challenges as a community,” said Tom Gonzales, public health director for Larimer County. “But we’ll rally, and we’ll work on them.”
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute recently released county health rankings across the country, including for 60 of Colorado’s 64 counties.
The study looked at factors such as health conditions, crime rates, housing costs and amenities, environmental health factors, poverty, education, flu vaccination rates and health insurance rates.
Overall, Larimer County ranked the seventh healthiest in the state, (countyhealthrankings.org), but the numbers backed up a rising health concern: more sexually transmitted infections.
Larimer County is not alone, as this increase is being seen across the state and nationally as well, said Katie O’Donnell, spokeswoman for the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment.
Health officials cannot say for sure why there is a rise in these infections, but they are tackling it by offering free testing, increasing educational programs and expanding their condom access program.
The biggest increases, Gonzales said, are in gonorrhea and Chlamydia. Between 2013 and 2018, the number of reported cases of gonorrhea in Larimer County rose from 58 to 299, while the number of Chlamydia cases rose 60 percent in that same period with 1,459 cases reported in 2018.
The numbers also show that 65 percent of the sexually transmitted infections that are diagnosed in Larimer County are among residents ages 15 to 24 years old, the health department reports.
Early treatment of these infections is key to preventing long-term health damage and further spread of the condition, which makes testing very important, O’Donnell and Gonzales said.
Throughout April, the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment will offer free testing at all of its offices, including in the new county building in Loveland at 200 Peridot Ave. (the corner of First Street and Denver Avenue).
While there is no hard data to say why infections are on the rise, preliminary results of a student-based study at Colorado State University point to an increased use of long-term contraception such as IUDs instead of condoms, according to information from O’Donnell. While these may prevent pregnancy, they do not prevent sexually transmitted infections.
The health department wants to make sure residents know that and know the risks associated with certain behaviors. Officials plan to increase education on those issues as well as educate residents on condom use, which will prevent these infections. In addition, residents also may access free condoms at all health department offices, even if they are not a client.
Other areas addressed in the study, and being looked at by health officials, include:
• Vaping: While the rates of people smoking traditional cigarettes have fallen, Larimer County is seeing a major increase in youths who are vaping. Larimer County leads the state in teenage vaping rates, with usage currently rising at a 32 percent rate, according to information from the health department.
The increase could be because vaping does not have as big of a negative public view as smoking, and young people may not realize the dangers, said Gonzales.
He and other health officials aim to change that perception because vaping involves large amounts of nicotine that can have devastating effects on young brains, according to Gonzales
A bill in the Colorado General Assembly could add vaping alongside smoking in the clean indoor air act, which would be a step in the right direction, Gonzales said.
“We’ve made such great strides in reducing teen smoking,” he said. “Now to see the vaping come in, and now we have more young children with nicotine in the brain.”
• Obesity: While Larimer County’s obesity rate (21 percent) is lower than the national rate (30 percent), it is higher than it has been in recent years. Many factors tie into this, such as access to and education about healthful foods, exercise and economic status, Gonzales said.
Larimer County has many public parks, trails and other recreation possibilities, but not all residents have access, whether it is because they are working multiple jobs and don’t have the time or money or because of a lack of safe transportation or other issues, according to the health department.
There are several agencies that offer nutrition and cooking classes, education on healthy and active lifestyles is incorporated at local schools, and other programs are working to combat this problem, according to O’Donnell.
• Housing: The study looks at how housing is the foundation for “living long and well” and how high housing costs can lead to unsafe or overcrowded homes and homelessness. The rankings show “stark differences” across and within counties on the ability to afford a home, which impacts health in many ways.
“If you’re struggling to make rent or mortgage, you’re probably not going to have time to exercise, take care of your mental health because you’re working two to three jobs,” Gonzales said.
Though not reflected in the study, housing costs from the cost of mortgages to the cost for rentals are rising in Larimer County. Officials across the county will be laying out a path to address this as part of Larimer County’s strategic plan, which is being developed now.
• Positive trends: Flu vaccination rates are going up, while violent crime rates are going down in Larimer County, both of which positively affect health rates. The county has low rates for those who are uninsured (7 percent), lots of parks and trails and a low teen pregnancy rate that has been dropping for years since health officials began to target that with specific education and other measures. Plus, data shows a 19 percent reduction rate over five years after the launch of a long-acting reversible contraception initiative, according to O’Donnell.
“It showcases that when we really focus in on a challenge, we can make serious strides as a community,” said Gonzales.
He later added that is what the health department and its many community partners hope to do with new challenges including affordable housing, vaping and rates of sexually transmitted infections.
“We’re looking at what are the disparities, what are the inequities,” Gonzales said. “Then we’ll work with our partners, bring everyone to the table because everyone has a piece of the puzzle, so we can fill those gaps.”
Pamela Johnson: 970-699-5405, johnsonp@reporter-herald.com