Access to health care, obesity prevention, substance abuse prevention and teen pregnancy prevention are Moore County’s latest health priorities.

These priorities for the 2010-13 years were determined through the recently completed survey known as Moore County Community Health Assessment (CHA). It was carried out through the collaborative efforts of community leaders, social and human service agencies, health care providers and residents, the Moore County Health Department and MooreHealth Inc. (the local Healthy Carolinians task force).

The purpose was to develop plans for priority issues to be addressed in the next four years.

How healthy are Moore County residents? What are the strengths of the community? What health concerns do residents have? These are the types of questions asked in the survey.

The CHA priorities were selected because of data documentation, concerns expressed by residents, and opportunities to make an impact on the problems, according to a news release from the office of Robert Wittmann, county public health director.

Wittmann said the CHA is a comprehensive collection and analysis of data for Moore County regarding health issues and concerns, available services and resources and opportunities for action. In addition to examining data, the Moore County CHA included conducting focus groups, key informant interviews and a community health opinion survey. The CHA provides a snapshot of the health of residents by studying health indicators including population demographics, behavioral risk factors, incidence of chronic disease, maternal and child health, environmental health and the availability of health resources. The assessment process is initiated every four years and is required of all health departments in North Carolina.

More information is available by calling FirstHealth of the Carolinas, Community Health Services at (910) 715-1925 or the Moore County Health Department at (910) 947-3300. A copy of the CHA or the executive summary may be downloaded by visiting the health department website at www.moorecountync.gov/health.