330574
Mapping the association of Samoan Obesity Rates and household-income in Los Angeles County
Methods: Obesity data was collected from 2007 Health Surveys Administered by the Los Angeles County of Public Health. The spatial break-up of the data was separated by Health Districts, with a sample of an estimated 578,000 participants; 83,000 of which being Asian/Pacific Islanders. This data was used to determine the location of the majority of Samoans in Los Angeles County.
Results: Surface area maps indeed indicated that areas of LA County with a high prevalence of obesity indicators coincided with high rates of low income households at above mean levels. Health districts such as Long Beach and Carson, who record the highest rates of obesity, were also linked with low income households, while areas such Rancho Palos Verdes, who indicate lower rates of heart disease, show higher household incomes.
Conclusion: GIS based maps can allow Health providers can gain a better understanding of the health status and income levels of communities in which they work. This understanding can help create interventions which target specific determinants of Samoan obesity.
Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health educationAssessment of individual and community needs for health education
Chronic disease management and prevention
Diversity and culture
Public health or related education
Learning Objectives:
Identify the association between obesity and income indicators.
Explain the distribution of possible environmental indicators of obesity.
Differentiate high income and low income distribution of environmental obesity indicators
Keyword(s): Obesity, Low-Income
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a research assistant for a research group that has received funding for multiple project grants and which has a strong record of peer reviewed publications in the area of child and adolescent health behaviors. My scientific interests concern the topics under consideration in this abstract which are the basis for my statistical and research methods training. I am responsible to prepare this research for a scientific peer reviewed manuscript.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
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.