Mapping our course: Using GIS to plan targeted outreach to improve flu immunization rates in Los Angeles County's African American population

The LA County (LAC) Public Health Department (DPH), mobilized to prevent the spread of H1N1 flu by organizing 109 vaccination clinics at community based sites (e.g. Faith Based Organizations (FBO)) from October-December 2009. Over 200,000 vaccinations were distributed countywide.

African Americans comprise 9% of LAC's population, yet accounted for less than 3% of the H1N1 vaccinations distributed. These data parallel other immunization disparities and highlights the need to implement new strategies alongside trusted community partners to improve flu immunization rates in this population.

One of the highest proportions of LAC's African American populations resides in Service Planning Area 8 (SPA 8). Partnering with FBOs has proven successful in promoting H1N1 immunization in SPAs. Therefore, expanding SPA 8's FBO partnerships in the African American community is critical in improving flu immunization rates.

To accomplish this, GIS maps of FBO's were created using data from InfoUSAŠ. FBO's square footage served as a proxy for estimating congregation size. Church addresses were geocoded using ESRI's ArcMap 9.3. Demographic data was abstracted by the U.S. Census for the African American population and then mapped to targeted geographic areas to show population density.

Using ESRI's Map Book, individual city maps were created of SPA 8 targeted churches. Additionally, using the density tool, clusters of large churches were identified to limit travel time to conduct flu outreach.

Limited staffing and fiscal resources made GIS mapping an essential planning tool for identifying highest African American population density to church size in order to engage FBOs in flu vaccination.