Marshall County Community Assessment - Essay Example

"Marshall County Community Assessment" is a worthy example of a paper on social and family issues.
Marshall County is a county is in Iowa State, with an overall population of 40,857, according to the 2012 census data.  The County has a higher rate of urban population compared to the rural population, where the county has an urban population of 66% and a rural population of 34%. The county is reasonably populated, comprising of a population density of 72 people per square mile. The county is cosmopolitan, comprising of almost every community represented in the American population demographics. 

Ethnic groups in the community/county

However, the county is predominantly occupied by the American Indians. The second large community is the Hispanic or the Latino community, followed by the African Americans and then the Non-Hispanic Whites.

The state's and county's rank in overall health

The status of health of Marshall County is ranked at 66 out of the 99 counties within the Iowa State (). The mortality rate for Marshall County is 76. Further, the rate of premature death in the county is higher than the national average. The premature death for the Marshall County in Iowa State is 6752, out of a national benchmark of 5317 (). In addition, the state of poor or fair health in Marshall County is still high compared to the National average of the poor health statistics. Marshall County has a poor health state of 11% of its population, measured against the national average state of the poor health of 10% (). In addition, the state of birth weight has deteriorated in Marshall County, as compared with the national average. The county has a low birth weight of 7%, compared to the national low birth weight average of 6%.  The health behaviors also point to a state of high health risk factors. Marshall County has a smoking population of 20%, compared to the national average the smoking population at 13% of the entire population (). The obesity rate for the county is even much higher compared to the average national obesity rate, with Marshall County having an obesity rate of 32%, against the national average obesity rate of 25%. Marshall County also points to having a high rate of drug and alcohol abuse. The Marshall County population engaged in excessive drinking in 25%, compared to the national average of 7% population rate of excessive alcohol consumption (). Consequently, the average number of motor vehicle deaths registered in Marshall County is higher at 12, compared to the national average of 10. Further, the state of reproductive health in Marshall County is really wanting, with the county having a high rate of sexually transmitted diseases at 346 compared to the average national rate of 92 (). The rate of teen birth in the county, as a result of a poor reproductive health state, is high, at 59 teen’s birth rate, compared to the average national teen birth rate of 21. In addition, the rate of the uninsured population in Marshall County is high compared to the national average rate of the uninsured population. Marshall County has a population of

The community's/county primary needs assessment

First, the access has a need for accessing healthy foods, considering that the rate of lack of access to healthy foods in Marshall County is much higher. Limited access to healthy foods in Marshall County is at 6% of the population, compared to the National average of 1% population that lacks access to healthy foods.

Second, Marshall County has a dire need for preventable health services, considering that the rate of preventable hospital stays in Marshall County is 46 ().

Third, the county has a great need for good and effective productive health education and services