Question 1: What are the sociodemographic characteristics of the
general population in Louisiana?
This section provides information on the demographic and
socioeconomic characteristics of the state. Regional Implementation Plans, which are included as a
separate chapter of the Comprehensive Plan, profile each region in more detail.
Summary
Population: In the 2000 census, the total population reported for
Louisiana was 4,468,976 persons. Louisiana comprises 64 county-equivalent subdivisions that
are called parishes. Parish populations ranged from a low of 6,618 persons (Tensas Parish)
to upwards of a half-million persons in Orleans Parish. The Greater New Orleans area (Orleans,
Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, and St. Tammany Parishes) represented 30%
of Louisiana’s population. The major cities in order of descending population are
New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lafayette, and Lake Charles, with populations
ranging from 484,674 to 71,757. The state is considered rural; however, 75% of its population
reside in urban areas. Overall, the state has 8 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs).
Public Health Regional Structure: The Louisiana Office of Public
Health is divided into 9 distinct geographic regions (see map on page 97). A public health
region comprises 4 to 12 parishes surrounding one of the major urban centers in the state.
Regional activities include clinical services for family planning, STD screening and treatment,
maternal and child health, special health services for children, nutrition programs, and
immunizations. Services also include sanitation, environmental monitoring, and epidemiologic
investigations. Each region is home to a public hospital where residents may obtain primary care.
Demographic Composition: According to the 2000 census data, the
racial and ethnic composition of the state was estimated to be 64% white, 32% black, 1%
Asian, and 0.6% American Indian. Persons of Hispanic origin were estimated to make up
2.4% of the total population.
Age and Sex: In 2000, the median age of Louisiana residents was
34 years. More than 25% of the population were younger than 18 years of age; 11% of the
population were 65 or older. The proportion of females in the overall population was slightly
higher than the proportion of males (52% vs. 48%).
Poverty, Income, and Education: In 2000, the median household
income in Louisiana was $31,034. According to the 2000 census, nearly 900,000 residents (20%
of the population) for whom poverty status was determined had incomes that fell below the
federally defined poverty level, compared with 13% nationally. Louisiana has one of the
highest proportions of children living in poverty: 27% of all children 18 years or younger
in 2000. Of the total number of families, 42% had a female head of household (no husband
present), and 16% of all families had incomes below the poverty level. The unemployment
rate in 2000 was 6% statewide. One of every 5 adults (19–64 years) in Louisiana is
uninsured. In 2000, Louisiana ranked 45th among states for per capita income. In the 2000 census,
more than 75% of Louisiana residents aged 25 years and older reported educational
attainment of high school diploma or higher.
Health Indicators: It was recently reported in Health Care
State Rankings for 2002 that Louisiana ranks 49th in the nation in health indicators. According to
this report, prenatal care needs to be improved in the state: Louisiana ranked 2nd in the
percentage of low-birthweight babies (10.3% of live births), 4th in the rate of infant mortality
(9.3 infant deaths per 1,000 live births), and 15th in the proportion of women receiving late or
no prenatal care. Additionally, Louisiana ranks 9th highest in the rate of births to
teenagers (62.1 births to mothers aged 15–19 per 1,000 live births vs. 48.5 nationally) and 3rd
in the nation for rates of syphilis and gonorrhea. In 2000, the transmission rates for these
diseases were at least twice the national rate (5.0 syphilis cases per 100,000 persons vs. 2.5
nationally; 314 gonorrhea cases per 100,000 persons vs. 133.2 nationally). Lastly, the 2002
Louisiana Health Report Card indicates that many persons in Louisiana seek care at
hospital emergency departments in lieu of a primary care physician: Louisiana ranked 17th nationally in
the number of visits to emergency departments in hospitals.
Public Aid: In 2000, 16.2% of Louisiana residents were covered by
Medicaid, and 13.4% were covered by Medicare. Approximately 502,000 children 20 years of
age or younger rely on Medicaid for their health needs.
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