The Ottawa County Department of Public Health collects information about health issues. The information is collected to monitor the general health and well-being of our citizens. These data sources are useful for program development and evaluation. The information can also identify emerging health issues and trends. Listed below are the categories of available statistics and links to other data resources.
If you have any additional questions or need more information, please contact Derel Glashower.
- Behavioral Risk Factor Survey
- Body Mass Index Survey
- Community Assessment for Ottawa County
- Communicable Diseases
- Gastrointestinal Illness Surveillance Report
- Community Health Needs Assessment
- County Health Ratings
- Data Resources
- Frequently Requested Data Reports
- Healthy Ottawa Plan
- Maternal and Child Health Needs Assessment
- Migrant Farmworker Health Survey Report
- Overdose Reports
- Respiratory Illness Surveillance Report
- Suicide Reports
- Youth Assessment Surveys
Behavioral Risk Factor Survey (BRFS)
The Behavioral Risk Factor Survey (BRFS) provides a snapshot of general health, preventative behaviors, and health risk behaviors among adults. The information gathered in this study is used by the Department of Public Health and community partners to evaluate effectiveness of programs and to assess the needs of the community.
2020 2017 2014 2011 2011 Maps 2007 2004 1999 1994BRFS Special Topics
Body Mass Index Survey
Body Mass Index Survey measures the height and weight of third graders to assess trends in overweight or obesity.
2013-2014 2010-2011 2007-2008 2004-2005Community Assessment for Ottawa County
The Greater Ottawa County United Way created the Community Assessment as a snapshot of the community needs. This tool serves as a report to the community in general on the state of health and human service needs, and provides benchmarks from which to gauge progress. It is intended that this report, and the ongoing work of United Way, will facilitate increased community engagement around meeting the community’s needs.
2021 2018 2015 2012Communicable Diseases
Communicable Diseases are reported to the Department of Public Health for surveillance and investigation to prevent their spread. The following reports capture the diseases reported each year.
- 2024
- 2023
- 2022
- 2021
- 2020
- 2019
- 2018
-
Communicable Disease Reports - 2001-2017
2017
2016
- 2016 Annual Report
- 2016 Monthly Report
- 2016 Quarterly Report
- 2016 Sexually Transmitted Disease Report
- 2016 Vaccine Preventable Disease Report
2015
- 2015 Annual Report
- 2015 Monthly Report
- 2015 Quarterly Report
- 2015 Vaccine Preventable Disease Report
2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001
Gastrointestinal Illness Surveillance Report
As of June 2024, Ottawa County Department of Public Health publishes a report summarizing Gastrointestinal (GI) illness trends within Ottawa County. GI illness typically involves vomiting and/or diarrhea, and is often caused by bacteria, parasites, or viruses – particularly noroviruses.
This report can be used to inform clinical practice, healthcare planning, and policy implementation. Data included in this report are from many sources including hospitals, outpatient clinics, schools, and child care facilities in Ottawa County. Because this report is based on combined reporting from community institutions, counts and metrics may change as data are obtained and updated. Numbers in this report may not be final, but are a good reflection of GI illness activity in the community.
Reports are normally published each week, but the publication cadence may change based on the time of the year and public health resource availability.
Healthy Ottawa Plan
As a result of the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), an Ottawa County Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) was initiated by the partners of the CHNA and community members. Input from individuals, who represent the interests of the community (e.g., health and human service representatives, health care professionals and community members), worked together to develop a plan to address the top three health issues in Ottawa County. The CHNA research indicates the most prevalent health issues are access to health care, mental health and healthy behaviors. Creating a plan to improve people’s health can only be done with community members engaging to help carry out the objectives to form a healthier county.
2021
2018
2015
Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA)
2020
2017
County Health Rankings
The County Health Rankings report ranks Michigan counties according to their summary measures of health outcomes and health factors. The report is a very broad view of "how healthy" Ottawa County residents are.
2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010Respiratory Illness Surveillance Report
As of November 2023, the Ottawa County Weekly Influenza Report is now the Ottawa County Weekly Respiratory Illness Report. The report is used to not only summarize local influenza (flu) trends, but is now updated to include flu, COVID-19, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) information. All of these viruses affect the body's organs and tissues that help with breathing.
The report is a summary of local respiratory virus trends that can be used to inform clinical practice, healthcare planning, and policy implementation. Data included in the report are from many sources including hospitals, outpatient clinics, schools, childcare centers, and long-term care facilities in Ottawa County. Because this report is based on combined reporting from community institutions, counts and metrics may change as data are obtained and updated. Numbers in this report may not be final, but are a good reflection of flu and other respiratory virus activity in the county.
The weekly reports are usually published each week from October through May.
2024-2025 2023-2024 2022-2023 2021-2022 2020-2021 2019-2020 2018-2019 2017-2018 2016-2017 2015-2016 2014-2015Maternal and Child Health Needs Assessment
The goal of this study is to understand the maternal and child health needs and priorities within Ottawa County. It identifies disparities by race/ethnicity, gender, income, geography or other classifications; outcomes worse than the state; and negative trends.
2017 MCHNAMigrant Farmworker Health Survey Report
VIP Research and Evaluation was contracted by the Ottawa County Department of Public Health to conduct a 2021 health survey with the adult migrant farmworker subpopulation in Ottawa County. The overall objective of the research was to obtain information from Ottawa County migrant farmworkers about a wide range of issues and behaviors that affect their health.
2002 2021Migrant Health Taskforce Strategic Plan
The 3-year grant from the Office of Minority Health which funded the activities of the Migrant Health Taskforce, including its strategic plan, ended on September 30, 2023. The full strategic plan and Year 2 and 3 evaluations can be found here.
View Full Strategic Plan View Full Strategic Plan - Spanish Year 2 Evaluation Year 3 EvaluationYouth Assessment Surveys (YAS)
The Ottawa County Youth Assessment Surveys monitor the prevalence of youth health risk behaviors. The purposes are to monitor trends and to provide information so local agencies and schools can focus programs and policies to reduce behaviors that contribute most to the leading causes of mortality and morbidity.
Frequently Requested Data Reports
Suicide Reports
- Ottawa County Death by Suicide Report 2023
- Ottawa County Death by Suicide Report 2022
- Ottawa County Death by Suicide Report 2021
- Ottawa County Death by Suicide Report 2018
Overdose Reports
- Ottawa County Deaths Caused by Drug Overdose Report 2023
- Ottawa County Deaths Caused by Drug Overdose Report 2022
- Ottawa County Deaths Caused by Drug Overdose Report 2021
- Ottawa County Deaths Caused by Drug Overdose Report 2018
Data Resources
- AirData: Environmental Protection Agency's Air Quality System Data Mart
- CDC WONDER: Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research
- Health Professional Shortage Area Data
- Kaiser Family Foundation State Health Facts
- Kids Count
- Medically Under-served Areas/Populations Data
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
- Michigan School/Preschool/Childcare Immunization & Waiver Data
- Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System Online Interactive Data Tables
