Public Health System of Maryland Essay
The public health system of Maryland is well-developed but still it has considerable problems which need resolution because they threaten to the public health. In this regard, Maryland has considerable achievements in some issues, whereas serious problems put the public health of the state into quite a challenging position. In this regard, the state needs the elaboration of an efficient policy of the improvement of the public health system that can provide health care services for all citizens efficiently.Public Health System of Maryland Essay
The life expectancy in Maryland is higher compared to the average life expectancy in the US with 79.7 years in Maryland compared to 78.6 years nationwide.
The birth rate in Maryland is higher compared to the average birth rate in the US that indicates to the lower risk of the aging population of the state. The annual birth rate in 2012 in Maryland comprised 12.6 compared to 12.4 in the US. However, the gap between the birth rate in Maryland and nationwide closes steadily. In fact, at the moment, the difference in the birth rate is insignificant that raises public health problems in Maryland similar to those in the US at average.
Remarkably, in spite of the higher birth rate in Maryland compared to the US, the state has lower birth rates among adolescents compared to the average birth rates among adolescents nationwide.
Furthermore, the share of low birth weight of babies is higher in Maryland compared to the US with the average 8.8% compared to 8.0% in the US at average. Therefore, the problem of low birth weight is more significant in Maryland compared to other states of the US.Public Health System of Maryland Essay
Moreover, another serious health problem Maryland confronts today is a relatively high mortality rate, which is higher in the state compared to the US at average. For instance, the mortality rate in Maryland in 2011 comprised 6.7 compared to 6.1 in the US at average. Therefore, the state has to deal with the high birth mortality rate as one of the primary issues at the moment.
In this regard, it is worth mentioning the fact that the neonatal mortality in Maryland has the similar trend to be higher compared to the average nationwide. In fact, in 2011, the neonatal mortality rate in Maryland comprised 5.1, whereas the average national neonatal mortality rate was just 4.0.
Furthermore, the analysis of the public health in terms of the major causes of death in Maryland reveals the trends which are typical for the US. To put it more precisely, cardio-vascular diseases are among the leading causes of death in Maryland as well as in the USA. In fact, in 2012 the disease of the heart was the major cause of death in Maryland causing 25% of total death in the state. Malignant neoplasms hold the second place as the major cause of deaths in Maryland bringing 24% of deaths in 2012. In fact, causes of death in Maryland are actually similar to those in other states and Maryland fails to prevent them since the prevention of the development of cardio-vascular diseases, for instance, requires not only the improvement of health care services but also the change of the lifestyle of people.Public Health System of Maryland Essay
At this point, it is also worth mentioning the fact that Maryland has consistently low death rates caused by accidents compared to other states of the US. In 2011, the average death rate caused by accidents in the US comprised 38, whereas in Maryland this rate was just 25.6. In such a way, Maryland has lower risk of accidents as well as the state apparently has better emergency service since patients suffering severe accidents have better chances to survive compared to other states of the US.
Another noteworthy fact about the public health of Maryland compared to other states of the US is the consistently low death rate for Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, the age-adjusted death rate for Alzheimer’s disease in Maryland comprised just 16 in 2011 compared to 24.6 in the US at average. Therefore, the heath care services turn out to be more efficient in Maryland in terms of the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease compared to other states of the US.
Nevertheless, mental health illnesses and public health polices related to this problem are one of the main challenges to the public health in Maryland because, at the moment, the public mental health services in Maryland are inadequate. At the moment, the state’s public mental health system provides services to only 19% of adults, who live with serious mental health problems (Maryland, 2010). Therefore, the state’s public mental health system needs consistent improvements to provide mental health services to all patients, who need the assistance of health care professionals.Public Health System of Maryland Essay
Thus, Maryland has considerable achievements in the field of the maintenance of high birth rates and maintenance of public health. However, the state faces considerable troubles with the high birth mortality and neonatal mortality rate. Another serious problem the state has to deal with is the problem of the provision of public mental health care services to all patients.
References:
Maryland. (2010). State Statistics. Retrieved on January 24, 2014 from http://www.nami.org/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm?ContentFileiD=93498
O’Malley, M. et al. (2012). Maryland Vital Statistics Annual Report 2012. Retrieved on January 24, 2014 from http://dhmh.maryland.gov/vsa/Documents/12annual.pdf Public Health System of Maryland Essay