Austin Public Health has released the 2017 Critical Health Indicators Report for Austin and Travis County. The report notes several successes in moving toward a healthier community…
- Fewer middle school and high school students report using tobacco.
- There has been a 60% decline in Black infant mortality rates since 2003-2004.
- There are fewer deaths due to lung cancer.
But there is still work to do. According to the report…
- Blacks have disproportionately higher rates of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases.
- While the infant mortality rate for Blacks has declined, it is still 2-times higher than the White infant mortality rate.
- More than 125 Travis County residents die due to suicide each year.
- Poisonings due to narcotics, alcohol, psychotropic drugs and other medicators are the leading cause of unintentional injury death for those aged 25 to 64.