Kentucky Health Facts

We posted 42 data sets to KentuckyHealthFacts.org, the user-friendly website we operate providing county-level health data. The Tracking Health tab offers a quick snapshot of Kentucky’s health status. We provide this information under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. 

 

Also, under this MOU, W. Jay Christian, PhD, Assistant Professor at the University of Kentucky, College of Public Health, analyzed data from the Kentucky Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), resulting in three manuscripts:

• Estimating the Population Attributable Fraction of Asthma Due to Electronic Cigarette Use and Other Risk Factors Using Kentucky Behavioral Risk Factor Survey Data, 2016–2017. with C. Walker, in Substance Use & Misuse, v. 56, issue 3.

• Exploring COVID-19 case fatality in relation to the prevalence of chronic conditions and health behaviors in Appalachian Kentucky. Journal of Appalachian Health, forthcoming.

• Comparing E-cigarette use in Kentucky, its Appalachian region, and the United States using the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. with N. Valvi N and C. Walker. Public Health Reports, forthcoming.

 

Kentucky Health Issues Poll

Our annual telephone poll, conducted in the fall in partnership with Interact for Health, asked Kentucky adults their opinions about a variety of health issues. In 2020, we published nine issue briefs on the fall 2019 poll results:

• 3 in 4 Kentucky adults favor tax on e-cigarettes at rate similar to cigarettes

• Most believe addiction is a disease; half know where to find treatment

• Vast majority of Kentucky adults favor medical marijuana legalization

• 7 in 10 Kentucky adults have a favorable opinion about Medicaid

• Support remains strong for schools taking more active role in kids’ health

• 2 in 10 Kentucky adults have loaded, unlocked firearms in or around home

• 3 in 4 Kentucky adults say they support a statewide smoke-free law

• 6 in 10 favor Tobacco 21 in Kentucky; support has been steady since 2015

• Connections between income and access to health care in Kentucky

 

KHIP was not conducted in fall 2020, due to the pandemic.

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