title: Measuring contextual characteristics for community health.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To conceptualize and measure community contextual influences on population health and health disparities.
  
  
  METHODS
  We use traditional and nontraditional secondary sources of data comprising a comprehensive array of community characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a consultative process, we identify 12 overarching dimensions of contextual characteristics that may affect community health, as well as specific subcomponents relating to each dimension.
  
  
  METHODS
  An extensive geocoded library of data indicators relating to each dimension and subcomponent for metropolitan areas in the United States is assembled.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We describe the development of community contextual health profiles, present the rationale supporting each of the profile dimensions, and provide examples of relevant data sources.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our conceptual framework for community contextual characteristics, including a specified set of dimensions and components, can provide practical ways to monitor health-related aspects of the economic, social, and physical environments in which people live. We suggest several guiding principles useful for understanding how aspects of contextual characteristics can affect health and health disparities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Administration, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802-6500, USA.
authors.forename: Marianne M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Hillemeier
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harper
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Casper
mesh_terms: D018672:Community Health Planning; D004493:Education; D004651:Employment; D004777:Environment; D006304:Health Status; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D011057:Politics; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D012961:Sociology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data