Hurricane Helene: Public Health Department Closures

Latest updates: Hurricane Helene

Our public health departments' hours of operation may be affected by power and staffing outages. This means that some closures may not appear on the state government office delays and closings map. The health and safety of our employees and our clients remains our highest priority. We are working to get services restored as safely and quickly as possible.

Learn more about DPH's role with hurricanes, floods, and weather emergencies.

Chronic Diseases

Chronic diseases, in general, are conditions that last one year or more and require ongoing medical attention and/or limit the daily living activities of someone with the disease. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States.

Learn how you can prevent chronic diseases.

Examples of data showing disparities

Diabetes and Heart Disease Management

Examples of data showing disparities

  • 20.1% of non-Hispanic Black adults report having diabetes, higher than what is reported among non-Hispanic Whites (12.2%). (Source: DHEC BRFSS, 2020)
  • Non-Hispanic Blacks had a 2.4 times higher age-adjusted death rate from diabetes compared to non-Hispanic Whites. (Source:  SC DHEC Vital Statistics 2019)
  • The prevalence of prediabetes is higher among non-Hispanic Black adults (14.3%) than non-Hispanic Whites (10%). (Source: DHEC BRFSS 2018)
  • 2 out of 5 non-Hispanic Black adults have hypertension (Source: DHEC BRFSS 2019)
  • Non-Hispanic Blacks had a 20% higher death rate from heart disease compared to non-Hispanic Whites in 2019. (Source: DHEC Vital Statistics)
  • From 2016-2020, the rate of lower limb amputations related to diabetes in Zip Code 29203 was double the state average; most (81%) of the residents of 29203 are non-Hispanic Black and 28.5% live in poverty. (Source: SC RFA, 2016-2020; US Census Data, 2019 ACCS 5-year estimates)
  • 26.8% of all COVID-19 deaths as of March 1, 2022 were among individuals with diabetes. (Source: DHEC SCION)

Cancer

Examples of data showing disparities

  • The age-adjusted incidence of female breast cancer is 2.4% higher in White women than among Black women.  However, the age-adjusted female breast cancer death rate for Black women is 43% higher than that for White women. (DHEC Cancer Registry, 2015-2019)
  • The age-adjusted prostate cancer incidence rate for Black men is 73% higher than the rate for White men. (DHEC Cancer Registry, 2015-2019)
  • The age-adjusted prostate cancer death rate for Black men is 144% higher than the rate for White men. (DHEC Cancer Registry, 2015-2019)

Tobacco Use

Examples of data showing disparities

  • 20.2% of male adults in South Carolina report being a current smoker, 24.7% higher than their female counterparts (16.2%). (DHEC BRFSS 2020)
  • 35.9% of South Carolina adults who have less than a high school diploma report being a current smoker, 5.7 times higher than those with a college degree (6.3%). (DHEC BRFSS, 2020)
  • Among current smokers, the percentage of South Carolina adults who report currently using menthol cigarettes is 2.2 times higher among non-Hispanic Blacks (84.1%) when compared to their non-Hispanic White counterparts (38.1%). (SC Adult Tobacco Survey, 2017-2018)
  • 30.9% of White high school students report currently using e-Cigarettes, 3.5 times higher than their Black counterparts (8.8%), and 12.0% higher than their Hispanic counterparts (27.6%). (SC Youth Tobacco Survey, 2019)

Oral Health

Examples of data showing disparities

Injury Prevention

Examples of data showing disparities

Drug Use

Examples of data showing disparities

  • The total drug overdose death rate has more than doubled over the last six years. (Source: DHEC Vital Statistics, 2020)
  • Males saw a 2.1 times higher rate of total drug overdose deaths when compared to females in 2020. (Source: DHEC Vital Statistics, 2020)

Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD)

Examples of data showing disparities

  • Black and Hispanic populations are at greatest risk for developing ADRD, but Whites make up the highest proportion of those living with ADRD in South Carolina. However, these statistics are among those that have been diagnosed.
  • Black and Hispanic populations are less likely to be diagnosed with ADRD and when they are, it is at a more advanced stage of disease with greater associated costs. 
  • According to the University of South Carolina’s OSA’s Alzheimer’s Disease Registry, at ages 65 and older, Black South Carolinians are 64% more likely to have ADRD.

Data source: University of South Carolina Alzheimer’s Disease Registry, 2021

Transportation and Injury

Examples of data showing disparities

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

According to the CDC, adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, are potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood, from ages 0-17 years. Examples of ACEs include experiencing violence, abuse, or neglect; witnessing violence in the home or community; or having a family member attempt or die by suicide.

Examples of data showing disparities

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