ANNUAL REPORT
2025 ANNUAL REPORT
The Southwest Utah Public Health Department (SWUPHD) serves approximately 295,000 residents across Washington, Iron, Kane, Beaver, and Garfield counties. The department’s work is guided by the Southwest Utah Board of Health, which sets public health policy. The board includes ten members, with two representatives from each county. Members serve three-year terms without financial compensation. Learn more about the Board of Health and its members here.
We are organized into four divisions, each offering programs and services designed to protect and promote public health. Below, you can explore the programs offered in each division, with links to more information and tables summarizing services.
CLINICAL SERVICES
Programs Offered – Baby Your Baby, EPSDT (Well-Child Care Resources), Health Screenings, Immunizations, International Travel Clinic, Maternal & Child Health Support, Medicaid Information, Mobile Clinics, Safe to Sleep Education (SIDS Prevention), Vital Records
Services Summary
| Description | Count |
| Birth & Death Certificates | 9,611 |
| Immunizations | 11,072 |
| International Travel | 1,076 |
| Screenings & Lab Tests | 1,764 |
COMMUNITY HEALTH
Programs Offered – Health Promotion (HP), including Car Seat Education & Inspections, Chronic Disease Prevention, Community Training & Outreach, Injury Prevention, Tobacco & Vape Prevention, and the TOP Star Program; and Women, Children & Infants (WIC) services, including Breastfeeding Support
Services Summary
| Description | Count |
| HP – (children served) TOP Star | 1,108 |
| HP – Class Participants | 478 |
| HP – Coalitions | 26 |
| HP – Events | 61 |
| HP – Quit Service Referrals | 280 |
| HP – Vape Prevention Reach | 452 |
| HP – Certified Car Seat Installs | 232 |
| HP – Safe Routes Youth Education | 12,259 |
| Breastfeeding Support Reach | 526 |
| WIC – Total Clients | 3,527 |
| WIC – High Risk Clients | 466 |
| WIC – Pregnant | 307 |
| WIC – Infants | 734 |
| WIC – Children | 2,005 |
| WIC – Nutrition Assessments | 7,054 |
| WIC – Nutrition Education | 14,108 |
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Programs Offered – Bioterrorism & Pandemic Preparedness Planning, Disease Investigation, Emergency Preparedness Education, Free Emergency Resources, Healthcare Coalition, Hospital Surge Planning, Mass Flu Vaccination Events, Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), Strategic National Stockpile (SNS)
Services Summary
| Description | Count |
| MRC – Volunteers | 210 |
| MRC – Volunteer Hours | 263 |
| MRC – Volunteer Hours Value | $11,987 |
| Preparedness Trainings | 193 |
| Preparedness Participants | 4,303 |
| Disease Investigations | 2,386 |
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Programs Offered – Body Art Regulation, Food Services (FS), Radon Poster Contest, Septic Systems, Swimming Pool Regulations, Tanning Facility Regulation, Tobacco Retailer Compliance, and Water Laboratory for Certified Water Sampling Analysis (WS)
Services Summary
| Description | Count |
| FS – Total Inspections | 2,644 |
| FS – Routine Inspections | 1,969 |
| FS – Preopening Inspections | 193 |
| FS – Follow Up Inspections | 82 |
| FS – Temporary Food Inspections | 306 |
| FS – Other Inspections | 94 |
| Food Handler Cards Issued | 11,468 |
| WS – Total Analyzed | 8,766 |
| WS – Pools Analyzed | 6,730 |
| WS – Drinking Water Analyzed | 1,931 |
| WS – Other Analyzed | 105 |
| (in district) Public Pools & Spas | 964 |
| (in district) Food Establishments | 1,493 |
| Septic System Permits Issued | 410 |
HEALTH STATISTICS
SWUPHD tracks key health indicators to monitor the well-being of residents across our five-county district. The table and chart below summarize births and deaths by county, highlighting trends and helping guide public health priorities. For more detailed information on communicable diseases reported in the district, visit our Communicable Disease page.
Births & Deaths
| County | Birth Certificates | Death Certificates |
| Washington | 5,076 | 2,168 |
| Iron | 1,072 | 518 |
| Kane | 118 | 112 |
| Beaver | 45 | 4 |
| Garfield | 83 | 32 |
Births & Deaths
| Washington | |
| Birth Cert. | 5,076 |
| Death Cert. | 2,168 |
| Iron | |
| Birth Cert. | 1,072 |
| Death Cert. | 518 |
| Kane | |
| Birth Cert. | 118 |
| Death Cert. | 112 |
| Beaver | |
| Birth Cert. | 45 |
| Death Cert. | 4 |
| Garfield | |
| Birth Cert. | 83 |
| Death Cert. | 32 |
Leading Causes of Death
| Cause | Number of Cases |
| Diseases of heart | 513 |
| Malignant neoplasm (cancer) | 469 |
| Alzheimer’s | 168 |
| Unintentional injuries | 142 |
| Cerebrovascular (Stroke) | 100 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 81 |
| Chronic lower respiratory disease | 81 |
| Nutritional deficiencies | 64 |
| Parkinson’s disease | 60 |
| Nephritis | 58 |
| Intentional self-harm (suicide) | 55 |
| Septicemia | 35 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 33 |
| Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis | 31 |
| Renal disease | 26 |
FRIENDS OF PUBLIC HEALTH AWARDS
Each year, SWUPHD recognizes members of the community who demonstrate exceptional support and service to public health.
Mandy Gibbs, RDH, MSDH – Utah Tech University, Dental Hygienist Instructor
Tiffany Johnson, RN – Iron County School District, School Nurse Supervisor
Nick Reynolds – Garfield County, Southwest Utah Board of Health Member
Ulli Scholz – Saint George Police Department, Volunteer in Public Safety (VIPS)