Learning Objectives: Asthma and related respiratory ailments degrade the living conditions of some 12,100 children in the Bernalillo Airshed. The Albuquerque/Bernalillo Asthma Coalition brings together multilevel agencies to focus on this problem, including representatives from Albuquerque Environmental Health Department, the American Lung Association of New Mexico, Albuquerque Public Schools, Community Health Partnership, the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Presbyterian Healthcare Services, the New Mexico Department of Health, La Mesa Neighborhood, and Mission Hills Neighborhood. The Coalition’s mission is: To ultimately reduce pediatric asthma within cross-cultural communities using a community-based, multidisciplinary approach which includes: establishing a database to assess the asthma problem in the Bernalillo Airshed, identifying specific objectives, and targeting elementary-age children from low-income communities. The use of geographic information system (GIS) technology has helped the Albuquerque/Bernalillo Asthma Coalition assess available asthma data and identify communities in which to begin a pilot program. Called “Healthy Learners”, one of the major objectives is to compare two predominantly Spanish-speaking communities and identify environmental hazards and their effects (if any) on asthma incidence in the residing children. The presentation will focus on the role of a geographic information system (GIS) in the Albuquerque/Bernalillo Asthma Coalition and the importance of spatial analysis with data collected from multiple agencies working together toward a common goal. By evaluating all of the different factors that promote childhood asthma, the Coalition is developing realistic strategies to make a genuine difference in the lives of asthmatic children and their families. Learning Objectives: Recognize the importance of GIS technology and how the Albuquerque Environmental Health Department spatially analyzed data to measure project effectiveness. Discuss ways to implement GIS as a tool for program support. Apply the different factors that promote childhood asthma and develop program strategies using GIS technology
Keywords: Asthma, Geographic Information Systems
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None