Public Health for All: Harnessing Community Epidemiology for Health Equity, North Central Health District, GA.
Abstract
Background: Traditional epidemiology often fails to consider the specific context and members of the communities under study, thereby quantifying health disparities without identifying health inequities. Community epidemiology offers a solution by engaging community members and assets to help define and address social drivers of disease mortality and morbidity. The purpose of this presentation is to explain how North Central Health District (NCHD) is harnessing this approach to better understand and meet community needs with a health equity lens.
Methods: Our implementation of community epidemiology prioritizes relationship building and collaboration. Epidemiology staff have met with district program managers and community organizations to understand health equity data and training needs and brainstorm solutions. Data collection tools were then created or reviewed and disseminated to the populations of interest. Collected data are then analyzed to guide program planning.
Results: Notable projects initiated through the community epidemiology approach thus far include a survey for Monroe County residents to gauge perceptions around public health and local resources; a survey for Macon Pride Festival attendees to better understand the HIV-related health needs of the local LGBTQA+ community; and a collaboration with the United Way’s homeless coalition to develop a survey tool, provide training, and supervise data collection.
Conclusion: Prioritizing community epidemiology has increased communication and collaboration between internal and external partners and community members, catalyzing creative partnerships and projects. Community epidemiology is a powerful mechanism to ground data in key contextual factors affecting community health and should be considered over traditional approaches to develop effective and sustainable solutions to health inequities.
Keywords
Community epidemiology, health equity
Public Health for All: Harnessing Community Epidemiology for Health Equity, North Central Health District, GA.
Background: Traditional epidemiology often fails to consider the specific context and members of the communities under study, thereby quantifying health disparities without identifying health inequities. Community epidemiology offers a solution by engaging community members and assets to help define and address social drivers of disease mortality and morbidity. The purpose of this presentation is to explain how North Central Health District (NCHD) is harnessing this approach to better understand and meet community needs with a health equity lens.
Methods: Our implementation of community epidemiology prioritizes relationship building and collaboration. Epidemiology staff have met with district program managers and community organizations to understand health equity data and training needs and brainstorm solutions. Data collection tools were then created or reviewed and disseminated to the populations of interest. Collected data are then analyzed to guide program planning.
Results: Notable projects initiated through the community epidemiology approach thus far include a survey for Monroe County residents to gauge perceptions around public health and local resources; a survey for Macon Pride Festival attendees to better understand the HIV-related health needs of the local LGBTQA+ community; and a collaboration with the United Way’s homeless coalition to develop a survey tool, provide training, and supervise data collection.
Conclusion: Prioritizing community epidemiology has increased communication and collaboration between internal and external partners and community members, catalyzing creative partnerships and projects. Community epidemiology is a powerful mechanism to ground data in key contextual factors affecting community health and should be considered over traditional approaches to develop effective and sustainable solutions to health inequities.
