Methodological complexities and the use of GIS in conducting a community needs assessment of a large U.S. municipality.
Reliable assessment of health and social needs within a community ensures that local input drives strategic planning and programmatic decisions. Results are used to determine the priorities and focus of local public health departments and to support the activities of health and social service agencies. We utilized a geographic information system in the planning, administration, and analysis of a recent community needs assessment to ensure a reliable and randomly distributed sample of a diverse urban population and to allow for small geographic area analysis of disease prevalence data. Collection of location data at the time of the 3,361 face-to-face assessment interviews allowed for the association of spatial data with measures of health conditions and behaviors. Results of the assessment indicated a need for public health programs designed to address emerging public health concerns in the community. Incorporating a spatial component in analyses of morbidity and needs assessment data allows for efficient integration of demographic and socio-economic census data and permits ad hoc analyses of varied and changing geographic strata.
Kazda
Michael J
MJ
Epidemiology & Assessment Division, City of Fort Worth Public Health Department, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA.
Beel
Elizabeth Rossmann
ER
Villegas
Dorian
D
Martinez
Jessica Good
JG
Patel
Nita
N
Migala
Witold
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018672:Community Health Planning; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult