Assessing the Health Equity of the Coastal Georgia through COVID-19 Response Data
Abstract
The COVID-19 Health Equity team for the Coastal Health District was assembled in July 2022 to further advance the COVID-19 response to include targeting health inequities. The COVID-19 pandemic illuminated health disparities that resulted in communities being more vulnerable to the impacts of the COVID-19 illness. These health disparities include comorbidities, employment type, socioeconomic factors, and racial injustices. The COVID-19 Health Equity Team of the Coastal Health District will demonstrate in a poster presentation the use of secondary data sources to assess the COVID-19 response impacts on longstanding health inequities along the coast of Georgia. Utilizing completed SENDSS surveys from COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing, we assess demographics, comorbidities, employment, and contacts reported. We then overlap this date with 2020 U.S. Census data, county Infection rates (GADPH), and available historic maps depicting redlining. Assessing this data to determine whether COVID-19 response of the Coastal Health District communicated infection prevention to areas that experience the greatest number of health disparities. Secondary data analysis will be used for targeted outreach in addressing vaccine hesitancy and the promotion of chronic disease prevention programing.
Keywords
Health Equity; COIVD-19; community health; pandemic response
Assessing the Health Equity of the Coastal Georgia through COVID-19 Response Data
The COVID-19 Health Equity team for the Coastal Health District was assembled in July 2022 to further advance the COVID-19 response to include targeting health inequities. The COVID-19 pandemic illuminated health disparities that resulted in communities being more vulnerable to the impacts of the COVID-19 illness. These health disparities include comorbidities, employment type, socioeconomic factors, and racial injustices. The COVID-19 Health Equity Team of the Coastal Health District will demonstrate in a poster presentation the use of secondary data sources to assess the COVID-19 response impacts on longstanding health inequities along the coast of Georgia. Utilizing completed SENDSS surveys from COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing, we assess demographics, comorbidities, employment, and contacts reported. We then overlap this date with 2020 U.S. Census data, county Infection rates (GADPH), and available historic maps depicting redlining. Assessing this data to determine whether COVID-19 response of the Coastal Health District communicated infection prevention to areas that experience the greatest number of health disparities. Secondary data analysis will be used for targeted outreach in addressing vaccine hesitancy and the promotion of chronic disease prevention programing.
