Ashland County’s 2023-2025 Community Health Improvement Plan identified colorectal cancer incidence rates as an area of concern. Data from the National Cancer Institute Measurement period of 2016-2020 reflects the following deaths/100,000 population: 23.3 for Ashland County; 14.5 for Ohio; and 13.3 for the United States. The Healthy People 2030 Target is 8.9 deaths/100,000. Ashland County’s health and human service agencies are trying to identify why this number is high. Studies show colorectal cancer screening rates are lower in rural areas in the USA.
Click here to read a research paper that explores why colorectal cancer screening rates are lower in rural areas.
