Un DeKalb Saludable: Presenting Health Concerns among Hispanic/Latino DeKalb County Residents Using an Online Dashboard
Abstract
Background: Despite extensive publicly available data, few assessments of Hispanic/Latino health have been conducted at the county level and made available online. Although 8.5% of DeKalb County, Georgia residents identify as Hispanic/Latino, a focused analysis of this population's health status has not been done in the past. To better serve the Hispanic/Latino population, local health departments should be aware of the socioeconomic status (SES) of the Hispanic/Latino community and the health concerns they face.
Methods: We extracted demographic data from the 2021 American Community Survey and 2017-2021 health data from Georgia’s Online Analytical Statistical Information System and the State Electronic Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System for both Hispanic/Latino DeKalb residents and all DeKalb residents. With this data, we created a Hispanic health dashboard in English and Spanish. This dashboard will be made available via the DeKalb Board of Health’s website.
Results: Comparisons between DeKalb County’s Hispanic/Latino population and all county residents reveal many disparities. For instance, while only 64% of Hispanic/Latino have health insurance, 87% of all residents have coverage. Also, only 59% of Hispanic/Latino have at least a high school diploma, compared to 91% of all residents. Generally, statistics show that Hispanic/Latino have some health advantages over all residents, such as lower rates of hypertension, cancer, and diabetes. However, areas of concern for Hispanics/Latinos include motor vehicle crashes, suicide, COVID-19, sexually transmitted infections, perinatal conditions, and teen pregnancy. For example, the leading cause of premature death among Hispanic/Latino from 2017 to 2021 was crashes, with 610.2 years of potential life lost per 100,000 people, compared to a rate of 462.8 per 100,000 among all DeKalb residents.
Conclusion: Creating the Hispanic/Latino health dashboard revealed disparities in SES and health concerns among DeKalb’s Hispanic/Latino residents. By assessing demographic and health data, local health departments can prioritize initiatives to improve Hispanic/Latino health.
Keywords
Hispanic/Latino, data communication and informatics, health disparities
Un DeKalb Saludable: Presenting Health Concerns among Hispanic/Latino DeKalb County Residents Using an Online Dashboard
Background: Despite extensive publicly available data, few assessments of Hispanic/Latino health have been conducted at the county level and made available online. Although 8.5% of DeKalb County, Georgia residents identify as Hispanic/Latino, a focused analysis of this population's health status has not been done in the past. To better serve the Hispanic/Latino population, local health departments should be aware of the socioeconomic status (SES) of the Hispanic/Latino community and the health concerns they face.
Methods: We extracted demographic data from the 2021 American Community Survey and 2017-2021 health data from Georgia’s Online Analytical Statistical Information System and the State Electronic Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System for both Hispanic/Latino DeKalb residents and all DeKalb residents. With this data, we created a Hispanic health dashboard in English and Spanish. This dashboard will be made available via the DeKalb Board of Health’s website.
Results: Comparisons between DeKalb County’s Hispanic/Latino population and all county residents reveal many disparities. For instance, while only 64% of Hispanic/Latino have health insurance, 87% of all residents have coverage. Also, only 59% of Hispanic/Latino have at least a high school diploma, compared to 91% of all residents. Generally, statistics show that Hispanic/Latino have some health advantages over all residents, such as lower rates of hypertension, cancer, and diabetes. However, areas of concern for Hispanics/Latinos include motor vehicle crashes, suicide, COVID-19, sexually transmitted infections, perinatal conditions, and teen pregnancy. For example, the leading cause of premature death among Hispanic/Latino from 2017 to 2021 was crashes, with 610.2 years of potential life lost per 100,000 people, compared to a rate of 462.8 per 100,000 among all DeKalb residents.
Conclusion: Creating the Hispanic/Latino health dashboard revealed disparities in SES and health concerns among DeKalb’s Hispanic/Latino residents. By assessing demographic and health data, local health departments can prioritize initiatives to improve Hispanic/Latino health.
