Environmental Health and You

Some Quick Facts: Health Care Services in Essex County

• 88.5% of the population of Essex County, NJ has health coverage, with 47.3% on employee plans, 21.7% on Medicaid, 10.1% on Medicare, 9.02% on non-group plans, and 0.433% on military or VA plans.
• Primary care physicians in Essex County, NJ see 1189 patients per year on average, which represents a 0.422% increase from the previous year (1184 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1107 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 410 patients per year.
• By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 47.2% were men and 52.8% were women.

Primary Care Providers in Essex County

Primary care physicians in Essex County, NJ see an average of 1,189 patients per year. This represents a 0.422% increase from the previous year (1,184 patients).

Mental Health Services in Essex County

Mental health providers in Essex County, NJ see an average of 410 patients per year. This represents a 0.966% decrease from the previous year (414 patients).

Health Outcomes in Essex County

• In 2023, the number of infant deaths (within 1 year) per 1,000 live births was 5.85 in Essex County, NJ.
• In 2023, the percentage of live births with low birthweight (< 2,500 grams) was 9.52% in Essex County, NJ.
• In 2023, the number of deaths among residents under age 75 per 100,000 population (age-adjusted) was 397 in Essex County, NJ.
• In 2023, the percentage of adults aged 20 and above with diagnosed diabetes (age-adjusted) was 10.7% in Essex County, NJ.

Health Behaviors in Essex County

• In 2023, the index of factors that contribute to a healthy food environment (from 0-worst to 10-best) was 8.2 in Essex County, NJ.
• In 2023, the percentage of population who lack adequate access to food was 12.3% in Essex County, NJ.
• In 2023, the percentage of adults who are current smokers (age-adjusted) was 14.4% in Essex County, NJ.
• In 2023, the number of drug poisoning deaths per 100,000 population was 37.6 in Essex County, NJ.

Data from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps County Health Rankings.

Exploring data and infographics to learn more about the community characteristics in Essex County can help you better understand populations at higher risk for environmental and health inequities.

Environmental exposures, along with historical injustices, racism, community design, access to resources, and other socio-economic factors, can lead to poor health outcomes, such as increased chronic disease and adverse birth outcomes.

Looking at health burden can help you better understand health inequities related to environmental exposures and other population vulnerabilities.

Built Environment in Essex County

Some aspects of built environment can lead to improved health, such as access to parks. Other aspects make households particularly vulnerable, especially during an emergency or natural disaster, such as limited internet access and no access to a vehicle.

Environmental Exposure in Essex County 

Climate Change Vulnerability in Essex County 

People from minority, low-income, tribal, and indigenous communities are most often disproportionately impacted by environmental hazards, such as environmental pollutants and climate-related events. Looking at environmental exposures can help you better understand areas and populations at higher risk for environmental and health inequities.

Health Burden of Essex County 

Reproductive and Birth Outcomes for Essex County 

Reproductive and birth outcomes occur because of a complex relationship between genetics, environmental exposures, and lifestyle factors. However, experiencing stressful events, exposure to environmental contaminants, and lack of access to medical care and nutrition, and other environmental and health inequities lead to poor reproductive and birth outcomes.