Healthy New Hampshire 2010 Mission

How Are We Doing in 2001?

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     New Hampshire is the fastest growing state in New England, according to the 2000 census. We have also never been more diverse in terms of language and culture. New Hampshire’s 1.2 million residents generally enjoy a high quality of life, including a beautiful natural environment in which to live. We have a relatively low poverty rate, low unemployment, and high per capita income.¹ We consistently rank as one of the healthiest states in the country as measured by such factors as child health, health care access, and health care quality. Average life expectancy of New Hampshire citizens is nearly 77 years, which is close to the national average. Yet, there is much more to be done. State averages mask disparities in the health and quality of life of some of New Hampshire’s residents. 
   The health of many New Hampshire’s citizens continues to be affected by preventable deaths, disease, disability, and disparities in health status. As displayed by the chart on page 2, many of the leading causes of death in New Hampshire are potentially preventable. Rural and urban poverty, the 96,000 people who remain uninsured, the increasing numbers of elderly in need of assistance, and the rising cost of prescription drugs all present challenges to the State’s health care systems. These systems will need to increasingly reflect our cultural and linguistic diversity to assure that no one has limited access to the information and services that contribute to a healthy life. 
     The absence of public transportation in New Hampshire’s rural areas and in some urban areas presents an additional obstacle to those seeking health care. An ongoing shortage of health care providers serving rural and low-income urban populations, as well as our elderly citizens, will also challenge our collective action in the coming decade.
     Socioeconomic status is an important predictor of health that deserves particular focus. In New Hampshire, the top fifth of the population has experienced a 50% increase in income over the last 20 years, while the poorest fifth experienced a 4% decrease in income, widening the gap between rich and poor.² From 1985 to 1996, the number of New Hampshire’s children living in poverty increased by 25%, compared to a decrease of 5% nationally.³ During the same ten year period, the number of families with children headed by a single parent increased by 41% in New Hampshire, an increase three times that of the nation.³ Clearly our agenda for health promotion in the next decade must address these unsettling trends. We are each called to reach out to our neighbors most in need and we are called to finally achieve equity of opportunity for all to lead full, active lives.

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