Introduction

Cancer claims hundreds of thousands of lives annually in the United States; about one out of every six deaths. However, getting screened regularly and making healthy choices like avoiding tobacco, eating well, and protecting one’s skin can help to prevent cancer or detect it early. Furthermore, some vaccines like the HPV or Hep. B vaccine has been shown to prevent some types of cancer. The Madison Borough Health Department is responsible for local public health efforts.

Data

The United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) conducts a routine national survey known as the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS).  In partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the CDC released local level estimates on cancer prevalence for 2020 and 2021.

Results

In Morris County, the estimated prevalence of cancer (%) was 8.5 with 95% CI (7.6, 9.4) , and the age-adjusted prevalence (%) was 6.8 (6.1, 7.5) in 2021. According to Census 2021 county population estimates, 510,981 people live in Morris. In the census tract with Drew University (Tract 432), the estimated prevalence of cancer (%) was 6.0% with 95% CI (5.4, 6.6) in 2021. This is lower than the county prevalence rate, and is the lowest in the county by 2.5% on average. According to Census 2010, there were 4,296 people live in this tract.

Conclusion

Understanding locational differences in cancer prevalence and access to care lends insight to local and county health departments to see where targeted interventions can work to reduce gaps in material access and health disparities. Health measures are also valuable in an environmental sense as we gain a greater understanding of how our built and natural environments contribute to specific pathways of disease, poor health or resilience and good health.

About The Data

The CDC Places data sets are part of a series, spelling out the acronym as Place Level Analysis and Community Estimates.  The latest estimates are for 2020 and 2021 for U.S. Census Tracts.

Other data sources visualized in the images here and on web maps are from the New Jersey Office of GIS (including County and Municipal Boundaries of New Jersey).