Hannah Matthews, Public Health Fellow (pictured) and Danielle Moser, Senior Public Health Educator, both from the Orange County Department of Health, discussed local health outcomes through the lens of the COVID-19 pandemic at a recent Mount Saint Mary College talk. The event was hosted by the college’s Desmond Center for Community Engagement and Wellness.
Representatives from the Orange County Department of Health discussed how social and economic environments can impact health in our local communities during a recent event at Mount Saint Mary College.
The talk, “Social Determinants of Health,” was hosted by the Mount’s Desmond Center for Community Engagement and Wellness. It was presented by Hannah Matthews, Public Health Fellow, and Danielle Moser, Senior Public Health Educator.
The social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, live, learn, work, and play. This includes living and working conditions, available healthcare services, education, housing, social and community networks, and individual lifestyle, among many other factors.
Using the COVID-19 pandemic as a case study, Matthews and Moser noted that these social and economic environments affect differences in health status in our local communities.
For example, there was a disproportionate impact of COVID-19 across Orange County, they explained. Through their research, Matthews and Moser found that the most economically and socially disadvantaged individuals suffer the most from COVID-19. In Orange County, COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths were highest in Newburgh and Middletown, and Black and Hispanic communities in Orange County have suffered more from COVID-19 than their white counterparts.
Taking all this into account, it’s clear that there is a disparity in the equity of health outcomes locally, Matthews said.
“It’s really important that we focus on equity when we are discussing public health and making sure that we reach equal health outcomes for all,” she explained.
The Orange County Department of Health is combating the issue in a variety of ways, Moser explained, such as providing additional public health education and prevention services in high-risk communities.
The Mount’s Desmond Center shares the goal of improving public health outcomes. The center provides health, wellness, educational, and professional services for underserved individuals and families in the local area, including the uninsured. It also offers educational workshops, family counseling services, fitness checks, immunizations, professional development events, and more for the local community.