Adults living in the eastern and western regions of Kentucky are more likely to smoke and also to report poorer health than those living in Louisville, Lexington and Northern Kentucky. On the other hand, the lowest uninsured rate in the Commonwealth is found among residents living in the western counties.
These are among the findings of regional reports for the Kentucky Health Issues Poll (KHIP), an annual telephone poll of Kentucky adults funded jointly by the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky and Interact for Health. KHIP asks about various health and health policy issues, including such topics as tobacco and other substance use, as well as health care coverage.
While a greater proportion of Northern and Eastern Kentucky residents struggle with illicit substance use issues, they are more likely to enter treatment than those living in Louisville, KHIP found. The greatest opposition to needle exchange programs is in Eastern Kentucky, where rates of meth and prescription drug abuse are highest. Heroin is the biggest illicit drug issue in Northern Kentucky, where opinions about needle exchange programs are split.
The statewide uninsured rate for adults ages 18 to 64 is holding steady at 11 percent, according to KHIP. The statewide rate has dropped dramatically since the Affordable Care Act became law; KHIP found it was 33 percent in 2009. Meanwhile, delaying care due to cost remains a problem throughout the state.
Other selected KHIP regional report findings:
Problems from Substance use
Tobacco-Control Measures
• The strongest support for a statewide smoke-free law that prohibits smoking and using e-cigarettes in public spaces is found in Louisville, at 76 percent. Statewide, 66 percent favor such a law.
Tobacco Use
• E-cigarette use was highest in Northern Kentucky, where 30 percent of the adults polled said they had tried e-cigs. The rates were 27 percent in the Lexington area, and 24 percent in Western, Eastern and Louisville regions of Kentucky. Statewide, young adults are much more likely to have tried e-cigarettes than their older counterparts. About one in four Kentucky adults overall said they have tried e-cigarettes.
Health Care Coverage
• Statewide, 26 percent of adults say they or someone in their household had delayed dental care due to cost. The rate was highest in Eastern Kentucky (34 percent) and Greater Lexington (32 percent), and lowest in Greater Louisville (19 percent).
• Adults in Greater Lexington (29 percent) were somewhat more likely to say they didn’t have a usual source of health care than Kentuckians in other regions. The rates were 25 percent in Western Kentucky, and 20 percent in Northern Kentucky. Statewide, one in four choose an inappropriate source of regular care.
Flu Vaccine
Health Status
KHIP surveyed 1,569 Kentucky adults; the statewide results have a 2.5 percent margin of error. The regional reports, as well as KHIP reports that look more in-depth at specific topics, are available on the Foundation’s website.
From Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky
