Health and Wellbeing

The health of Trafford’s population is varied compared with the average for England. There is wide variation in Trafford in terms of healthy life expectancy (HLE) and reducing this inequality is the overarching priority of Trafford’s Health and Wellbeing Board. Healthy Life Expectancy in the most deprived 10% of areas in Trafford is around 16 years lower than in the least deprived 10%. For more information, please see the life expectancy pages. 

 

Child Health & Wellbeing:

In 2021, 1.9% of Trafford babies born live at term had low birthweight; within Trafford, the proportion is higher in areas with greater child poverty rates (Child and Maternal Health, 2021). Around 1 out of 5 (18.5%) Trafford Reception children are overweight or obese.   Prevalence of obesity in Trafford Reception children living in areas that rank in the 20% most deprived in England is more than double that of children living in areas ranked 20% least deprived. (Child and Maternal Health, 2022).

Hospital admission rates for children in Trafford are typically similar to or better than the England rates. Only admissions of babies aged under 14 days in 2021/22 and admission episodes for alcohol-specific conditions in under 18s in the period 2018/19 – 2020/21 are worse than the England rates (Child and Maternal Health, 2022).

About 1 in 4 five year olds have one or more teeth affected by tooth decay, and tooth extraction is a common reason for planned admission to hospital in this age group (Child and Maternal Health, 2019).

 

Causes of Death:

Infant Mortality:

Infant mortality (deaths under 1 year of age) is an important indicator of the general health of a population and reflects the relationship between its causes and macro-level determinants of population health including economic, social, and environmental conditions.  The infant mortality rate in Trafford in 2019-2021 is 1.8 per 1,000 live births, statistically better than England (3.9 per 1,000). The trend in infant mortality rate has remained steady over the past decade (Child and Maternal Health, 2021).

Preventable Mortality:

Preventable deaths are classified as mortality rates for causes of death that are considered preventable i.e. where all or most deaths could potentially be prevented by public health interventions in the broadest sense. Social determinants of health (for example economic and social conditions) contribute significantly to levels of preventable ill health and mortality. Often the most vulnerable in society are at the greatest risk of developing preventable conditions through personal behaviour that is influenced by social pressures, such as job insecurity and poverty.

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths in England and is the single biggest risk factor for the burden of preventable cancers.  It contributes to the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and chronic respiratory conditions.  Other leading causes of preventable deaths include high blood pressure, overweight and obesity, physical inactivity, and alcohol.

  • Directly standardised mortality rate from causes considered preventable for Trafford (180.8 per 100,000 population) is statistically similar to England (180.8 per 100,000) (Public Health Profiles, 2018).
  • Under-75 mortality rate from cardiovascular diseases considered preventable for Trafford (32.8 per 100,000) is similar to the England rate of 30.2 per 100,000 (Public Health Profiles, 2021).
  • Under-75 mortality rate from cancer considered preventable for Trafford (50.2 per 100,000) is similar to England average of 50.1 per 100,000 (Public Health Profiles, 2021).
  • Under-75 mortality rate from respiratory disease considered preventable for Trafford (12.9 per 100,000) is similar to England average of 15.6 per 100,000 (Public Health Profiles, 2021).
  • Under-75 mortality rate from liver disease considered preventable for Trafford (17.8  per 100,000) is similar to England average of 18.9 per 100,000 (Public Health Profiles, 2021).

To summarise, preventable death rates for the main causes of premature mortality (cardiovascular disease, cancer, liver disease and respiratory disease), as well as the subsets within them, are all statistically similar to the average rates for England. People in the North and West of the borough are much more likely than those in the South or Central locality to die before the age of 75 from preventable causes, particularly from circulatory and respiratory disease.

Premature Mortality:

Premature deaths are classified as deaths under 75 years of age for all causes. Males are more likely to die prematurely compared with females.

  • Premature mortality rate from all causes is significantly similar (352.7 per 100,000 population) in Trafford to England of 363.4 per 100,000 (Mortality Profile, 2021).
  • The rate of premature mortality for males in Trafford (435.6 per 100,000) is similar to the England rate of 448.0 per 100,000 (Mortality Profile, 2021).
  • The rate of premature mortality for females in Trafford (273.4 per 100,000) is similar to the England rate of 283.4 per 100,000 (Mortality Profile, 2021).

 

Behavioural Risk Factors:

An estimated 11.1% of Trafford adults are smokers, which is similar to England (13.0%) for the year 2021 (Local Tobacco Control Profiles, 2021). Smoking prevalence in routine and manual workers is at 23.4%, and is similar to England at 24.5% (Local Tobacco Control Profiles, 2020).

In 2020/21, 22.2% of adults in Trafford were found to be physically inactive (engaging in less than 30 minutes of physical activity per week) and was statistically similar to England as a benchmark (Physical Activity, 2021).

Around 3 out of every five Trafford adults are overweight or obese (body mass index (BMI) is greater than or equal to 25kg/m2) and represents a significant public health issue for the borough. Prevalence of obesity in adults is at 60.7% for the year 2020/21. The percentage of adults who are overweight or obese is similar to the England average of 63.5% (Physical Activity, 2021).

Alcohol misuse represents an emerging threat to health and wellbeing in Trafford. The rate of hospital admissions for alcohol related condition is higher (statistically significant) than England and rising over time (Local Alcohol Profile, 2019).