Indicators of Chronic Disease and Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Capacity: Results from the 2009 Epidemiology Capacity Assessment

Since 2001, CSTE has been performing periodic assessments of epidemiology capacity (ECA) at state health departments. These baseline measurements of ability to perform core epidemiology functions have revealed a very real lack of capacity in the areas of Chronic Disease and Maternal and Child Health. With the revised modules for the CD and MCH program areas, CSTE hopes to demonstrate the critical role of epidemiologists in public health as well as to track their needs – whether it is data access or funding.

The ECA modules will be administered to the MCH and CD Epi leads in all 50 states in April 2009. Analyses will focus on frequencies and percentages of responses to these questions across all states and determination of trends over time using chi-square for trend if applicable.

Results of the Modules will include indicators of capacity measures categorized by workforce, access to data and consultants, data analysis and interpretation, data dissemination, outreach and partnership. Additionally, many of the results will mirror prior assessments and allow for a time-trend comparison as well as a cross-sectional nationwide comparison. These include the number of MCH epi staff, whether there is a doctoral level chronic epi, if BRFSS data is always available by October 1st the following year, etc.

The data will be used to inform ongoing CSTE and CDC efforts to improve epidemiology capacity through Applied Epidemiology Competency tools, training, etc. The results will bring a unified voice to the fields of Chronic Disease and Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology, respectively.