By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
life expectancy for darlington county
The 2019 “county snapshot” for local health outcomes shows the current prognosis for Darlington County is not exactly rosy. In fact, it’s pretty grim.
The annual Community Health Assessment from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) reveals that Darlington County ranks 38th out of 46 counties for health outcomes, which measures length and quality of life.
The report includes a map breakdown of life expectancy across the county, and the results vary by several years depending on location.
The highest life expectancies were found in the Clyde community, with an average of 77 years, and the lowest expectancies were found in the city of Darlington, where the average lifespan is around 69.5 years.
Areas of Hartsville varied notably, with those living west of town near Bobo Newsome Highway averaging 76.8 years and South Hartsville residents averaging 70.1 years. Life expectancies in Lamar and Society Hill were 75.2 and 75 years, respectively.
The leading causes of death are familiar culprits: heart disease, cancer and stroke. Increased risk factors for these chronic diseases — including obesity and smoking – are keeping our numbers elevated. The report says that 39.1 percent of county adults are obese, and 21.8 percent still smoke cigarettes.
Locally, the 10-year stroke mortality rate is outpacing the South Carolina average. Statewide, only 22.2 people per 100,000 die within 10 years after a stroke; in Darlington County, 28.6 people per 100,000 die within a decade of their first stroke.
Countywide rates of cancer incidence per 100,000 people stands at 461.2, according to data compiled between 2012 and 2016.
According to the report, Darlington County ranks 31st for other health factors, including health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic factors, and physical environment.
Demographically, the county’s population of 67,265 shows a 2.1 percent decrease from 2010. 55.2 percent of county residents are non-Hispanic white, 41.9 percent are non-Hispanic black, and 2.0 percent are Hispanic/Latino.
59 percent of residents are ages 18 to 64, 22 percent are under 18, and 19 percent are over 65.
87.5 percent of county residents had graduated high school as of 2018, and the median household income is $36,217. The report adds that 20.3 percent of the population has some form of disability.
The report notes that countywide health outcomes are strongly influenced by economic concerns, and states that 15.2 percent of adults 18 to 64 are uninsured.
Those persons are more likely to delay seeking preventive medical care due to cost, and the report says that 17 percent of adults have put off doctor’s visits and treatment because they lacked money. This resulted in 4,988 avoidable emergency room visits per 100,000 people, and 1,800 avoidable inpatient hospitalizations.
The issue of patients postponing or skipping medical visits disproportionately endangers infants and pregnant women.
The report states that between 2015 and 2017, 22.5 percent of South Carolina mothers received inadequate prenatal care. Perhaps as a result, 13.1 percent of babies were born prior to 37 weeks, and the infant mortality rate was 10 deaths per every 1,000 live births.
Behavioral health statistics show that 20.4 percent of adults report suffering from depression, and 13.6 percent of adults report binge drinking. The 5-year rate of drug overdose deaths for the county now stands at 11.6 deaths per 100,000 residents.
The presence of adverse childhood experiences can also negatively impact health outcomes, and the report notes that 49.6 percent of residents report some form of household dysfunction, 35.4 percent endured emotional or physical abuse, and 11 percent suffered sexual abuse as children.
In order to curb these negative trends, county residents can take the initiative and learn more about their options. Those dealing with chronic diseases can find information and support through organizations like the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org (843-669-6349) and the American Diabetes Association at diabetes.org (843-665-0985)
County residents can seek medical care through resources like the Darlington County Free Medical Clinic, located at 203 Grove Street in Darlington and 500 W. Carolina Avenue in Hartsville (843-398-0060), and expectant parents can learn about resources and receive guidance and support through Darlington County First Steps (843-857-3148).
Those dealing with substance abuse or emotional issues can seek counseling through Pee Dee Mental Health (843-661-5407 and 843-332-4141), and the Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Assault (1-800-273-1820) stands ready to aid those seeking a way out of abusive relationships.
