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Abstract #157803

Rachel Hart, Epidemiology, New York Medical College, 59 Beechdale Rd, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522, 914-433-2760, rachel_hart@nymc.edu and Karla Damus, PhD, Office of the Medical Director, March of Dimes, 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605.

Background: Selecting sites for program implementation given limited funding/resources is often based on rankings of highest rates or largest numbers of specific outcomes, which can preclude areas in greatest need for the services. Although complex weighting and adjustments can be done, statistical expertise may be required. We developed a simpler approach to select 20 states for continuing education related to preterm birth (PTB, <37 weeks).

Methods: We averaged the state rankings based on PTB rates with the state rankings based on largest numbers of PTBs and then ranked the averaged ranks. For the 50 states and DC rates and numbers of PTBs were ranked from highest (1) to lowest (51). These two ranks for each state were averaged and the averaged ranks were ranked from highest (1) to lowest (51).

Results: The top 20 states identified based on the averaged ranks were very different than the top 20 from either the ranked PTB rates or the ranked number of PTBs. For example, Ohio ranked 25th based only on ranked PTB rates but was 12th based on our averaged rank strategy; DC ranked 5th based on PTB rates alone but 28th based on the averaged rank strategy.

Conclusion: Our averaged ranked strategy based on both rates and numbers of PTBs provided a balanced list of states to target limited and important resources and can provide an approach for many public health programs. Application of this strategy can more efficiently allocate funding for interventions to sites with greatest need.

Learning Objectives:

• Assess the current system of resource allocation.
• Develop a fast, easy method for evaluating states to target for intervention programs.
• Identify states the need to be targeted for programs.

Keywords: MCH Epidemiology,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? Yes

Name of Organization	Clinical/Research Area	Type of relationship
March of Dimes	epidemiology	Employment (includes retainer)

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.