Recorded presentation

Fernando A. Guerra, MD and John Berlanga. Director Of Health, San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, 332 W. Commerce, San Antonio, TX 78205, 210-207-8731, fguerra@sanantonio.gov

Over the past 5 years, the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District has created a new methodology for small area analysis, reflected in our annual Health Profiles report, web site and community presentations. This year yielded dramatic evidence focusing on specific zip codes. This approach has clearly demonstrated that nine separate (although mostly contiguous) zip codes containing 27% of our population (83% Hispanic) account for approximately 35-50% of the need for municipal services. Only 40% of the children (ages 19 to 36 months) are current with their immunizations in these nine zip codes. Overall, San Antonio averages an 80% immunization rate for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). However WIC, family planning, prenatal care clinics, Head Start, and federally funded day care resources are concentrated in these same zip codes. These nine zip codes contribute to 50% of the counties teen births; Nearly 5,000 youth in these zip codes are high-school dropouts 47%, nearly 2,300 are juveniles on probation 41%. Nearly 1,500 youth in this area were reported as having sexually transmitted diseases 44%. Lack of health insurance, as well as reductions in have increasingly limited care, in these nine zip codes CHIP enrollment decreased 22%, County enrollment decreased 5,712 or 17% due to changes in eligibility. The socioeconomic costs continue to rise with each “missed opportunity” to address these challenges. These are indicators of communities being left behind. We may not be seeing the return on our investment that we had expected and that these communities deserve.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) will be able to

• Develop a method to define local geographic areas for collecting and intrepreting demographic data of public health concern.
• Analyize local trends in key public health indicators over time and in relationship to other health problems
• Apply local public health data to guide policy decisions in addressing specific areas of need.

Keywords: Health Disparities, Public Health Policy

Related Web page: www.sanantonio.gov/health/profiles/

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation