Survey shows top health concerns for Prince William, Manassas, Manassas Park residents

The cost of health care, obesity and access to healthy foods were the top concerns of the people who responded to a survey taken by Prince William Health District (PWHD) between February and June this year.

The health district includes Prince William County, Manassas, Manassas Park, Dumfries, Haymarket, Occoquan and Quantico.

Survey results were outlined June 17 at town hall meetings in the Boys’ and Girls’ Club, Manassas, and June 18 at Chinn Park Regional Library. A third session was set for June 24 in the Boys’ and Girls’ Club, Dale City.

Results also will be available on the health district’s web site later this summer at http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/LHD/PrinceWilliam .

The ten people attending the June 18 library town hall session ranked mental health as their top priority, followed by distracted driving and obesity.

Some 1194 people answered the survey in English and Spanish on line or by mail. Copies of the survey were available to the public at schools, community centers, libraries, the health district and on line.

Rich Anderson, who represents the 51st District in Virginia House of Delegates, and George Barker, representative for the 39th District in the Virginia State Senate, attended the meeting at the library.

Rachele Bowman and Hannah Cutts, both associates in the health district, also addressed the town hall meeting in the library.

Bowman observed the survey would show what changes needed to be made in the community to make it healthier, and what responsibilities lie with the community or with an individual. She noted this area needs more bike trails and walking paths, and that walking along roads is not safe always. Cutts questioned whether there is a duplication of health efforts among jurisdictions and queried what community assets could be used better.

Transportation also is a problem for area residents, especially the elderly, people at the library session opined. Those with disabilities have problems walking a block to catch a bus.

Abra Hogarth, who works in community relations for Novant Health Prince William Medical Center, noted she was told someone “had to be really old, 87 years old,” to qualify for help with bus service.

Another speaker said she’d tried to schedule a bus pickup on the phone, but was told she must do it online.

Another woman in the audience said there is a program in the Midwest where teen-age drivers give the elderly rides, and that that state’s department of motor vehicles assisted.

“It’s a God send. The riders felt it represented freedom for them. The (teen) drivers were vetted, it keeps teens out of trouble and gives them an appreciation for those over 20,” she asserted.

When it came to distracted driving, Barker reported a bill to go into effect July 1 this year makes texting or emailing while driving a primary offense. Anderson explained he carried the bill in the House, and that the dangers of texting and driving were driven home to him a year ago when three sisters in Lake Ridge told him their brother had been killed by a driver who was texting.

In discussing obesity, Susan McCrary, Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing, observed, “it’s not the fast food places that make people fat.” Hogath added, “you always can get a grilled chicken at the drive-in.”

Anderson reported that his Air Force career took him to India, Bangladesh and Nepal, and that the advent of fast-food outlets in those countries is leading to a fatter population.

Mental health issues “is all about prevention,” which should start in elementary school, some audience members said. A woman in the audience suggested “starting with toddlers on early intervention.”

Pim Bilberry, Potomac Health Foundation, reported her organization found there’s a lack of mental health care in the area. She explained Youth For Tomorrow (YFT) has a diagnostic center in eastern Prince William County.
“First comes diagnosis, then treatment,” Bilberry noted. She added YFT services “a broad range” of clients.

Bowman said military servicemen “need help coming back go their families.”

Dr. Allison Ansher, health district director, pointed out some mental health providers will only accept cash for bill payments. She said mental health issues affect community safety and schools.

Barker reported this area “is at a huge disadvantage” when it comes to mental health care, and that Fairfax County provides more funding for it. McCrary volunteered that “most parents work and have minimal involvement with their kids.”

Illana Naylor, a nurse, said she fears mental health issues and transportation fall through the cracks. Her 93-year-old mother pays $16 to take ten taxi trips. McCrary added her 95-year-old mother doesn’t drive and must take a bus.

“If she takes a bus, it takes all day, with the transfers. She hates to pay $20 to go to Giant,” she asserted.

When it comes to obesity, Ansher said the “Color Me Healthy” program teaches children to eat better.

Hogarth remarked that a change in school lunch menus has replaced chicken nuggets with a tortilla with chicken and a fruit cup.

Karen Fujii, a health district planner, explained the purpose of the survey was to examine the status of public health in Prince William County and open discussion of public health challenges and ways to address them.

Fujii reported most respondents were female, white/Caucasian and between 26 and 39 years old. They held high school diplomas, made at least $50,000 annually and received health care through their employer.

Other top concerns of those taking the survey, in descending order, are drug use or abuse, aging issues, mental health issues, dental care, alcohol use or abuse and lack of exercise. Child abuse or neglect and distracted driving were tied for 10th place in importance.

Health care costs topped the survey list in Greater Prince William, Prince William and Manassas City, but came in fourth in Manassas Park. Manassas Park tied obesity and drug use/abuse as its chief concerns, while Greater Prince William, Prince William and Manassas City dropped obesity to second place, survey data show.

Access to healthy foods was third in Greater Prince William and Manassas Park, but fourth in Prince William and Manassas City. Drug abuse took fourth place in Greater Prince William, sixth place in the county and third place in Manassas.

Aging issues was in third spot in the county, fifth in Greater Prince William, seventh in Manassas Park and 18th in Manassas City. Mental health issues were the fourth concern in the county, sixth in Greater Prince William, seventh in Manassas and 13th in Manassas Park.

Dental care issues were sixth in importance for Manassas Park, seventh for both Greater Prince William and Manassas City and ninth for the county. Manassas Park respondents named alcohol use/abuse to number five, while Manassas City put it in sixth position, Greater Prince William has it at number eight and the county put it number 10.

Lack of exercise was seventh in importance to respondents in the county, eighth in Greater Prince William, ninth in Manassas Park and 12th in Manassas City. Manassas listed child abuse/neglect as its fifth most important concern, while Greater Prince William had it in 10th place, the county had it 12th and Manassas Park residents had it in 17th position. Distracted driving took eighth place in the county, 10th in Greater Prince William, 16th in Manassas and 17th in Manassas Park.

Some 40.4 percent, or 482 people, cited health care costs as their top concern, while 38.1 percent, or 455 people, saw obesity as their first health worry. Another 314 people, or 26.3 percent, called access to healthy foods their top priority. Aging was selected at the main priority of 280 people, or 23.5 percent of those answering the survey. Mental health issues came next, picked by 274 people, or 23 percent. Dental care was selected as top priority by 231 people, or 19.4 percent of those answering. Another 226 people, or 18.9 percent, selected alcohol use or abuse as their main concern. Child abuse and distracted driving each had 212 people, or 17.8 percent, naming it as their main concern.