This section takes a population-based approach to our region's health by exploring measures of access to health care, the prevalence of selected diseases, mortality rates and behavioral health, including the growing problem of opioid addiction.

A lower percentage of people in our region (5%) lacked health insurance in 2020 compared to the state (6%) and nation (10%). Proportions have remained relatively stable since 2008 in the region, state, and nation.

Mortality rates associated with leading causes of death have declined since 2000 in our region. The overall mortality rate fell 15% from 2000 to 2019.

The region’s rate of reported chlamydia decreased from 2001 to 2020, yet the rate of gonorrhea cases increased by 76% since 2000. Reported rates of both infections were particularly high in the City of Rochester, about three and four times state rates. Rates of both infections were also higher for African Americans and Hispanics in Monroe County than for whites. In 2020, the rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea infections were over 10 times higher for African Americans than whites.

The share of residents living with HIV decreased since 2002 for most counties while  AIDS increased, although the advent of new drug treatments has dramatically changed the progression of the disease and increased the life expectancy of those affected. The region's HIV and AIDS rates continued to be above state levels (excluding NYC) because of high rates in Monroe County. Rates broken down by race and ethnicity for both HIV and AIDS were much higher for people of color, particularly African Americans.

While overall admissions to substance abuse treatment centers have been fairly flat over the past decade, admissions related to heroin use increased 74% in the region, rising from about 2,160 in 2007 to  3,660 in 2020.