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Kathy joined United Way of Greater New Haven in March of 2009. She is no stranger to the United Way system as she started out as a volunteer in 1997 at United Way of Milford helping with campaign and special events. Kathy eventually joined their board and chaired the Marketing Committee until in 2001 when she became the Director of Marketing for Milford. She made the jump to United Way of Greater New Haven in March of 2009 and is responsible for monitoring and/or producing the communication of United Way's work through multiple channels including website content, e-communications,...
Report: Education plays major role in Connecticut health
In all 50 states and the District of Columbia, adults with less education are more likely to be in “less than very good health” than college graduates — across all racial and ethnic groups — and adults in all states fall short of the level of good health that should be achievable for all Americans.
According to a report released today by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America, almost half of adults ages 25 to 74 report being in less than very good health, and that rate differs depending on level of education.
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The data comes from surveys conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in which respondents self-reported being in poor, fair, good, very good or excellent health.
“This shows that nationally, and in every state, the people with more education are healthier than people with less education,” said Paula Braveman, co-author of the study, “Reaching America’s Health Potential: A State-by-State Look at Adult Health,” and director of the University of California at San Francisco’s Center on Social Disparities in Health.
“To address health, we need to address education,” Braveman said.
Sue Egerter, also a study co-author and co-director of the University of California center, said that at higher education levels, people usually earn higher incomes and therefore are more likely to have employer-sponsored health care coverage, they can afford healthier food options and can afford to live in neighborhoods where it is safe to exercise outdoors and where grocery stores offer fresh foods.
In Connecticut, nearly one-sixth of adults live in poor or near-poor households, one quarter live in middle income households and approximately three-fifths live in higher income households, the study showed.
Thirty-nine percent of adults in Connecticut have no education beyond high school, compared to 44 percent nationally; 25 percent have attended but not completed college, compared to 28 percent nationally; and 36 percent are college graduates, compared to 29 percent nationally.
Compared with college graduates across the state, adults who have not graduated from high school are nearly three times as likely to be in less than very good health.
Braveman said that there is a “large and compelling body of evidence” that shows genetics and medical care are important, but they play a smaller role in health status. “Education and income are the largest parts,” she said.
Braveman said that among immigrants, people are coming to this country in better health than their ethnic counterparts who are born in the United States, and their health status declines once they are here.
“All of us can do better with our health,” said David Williams, staff director for the commission. “Education policy is health policy.”
Angela Carter can be reached at 789-5752 or acarter@nhregister.com.
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