2015 APHA Annual Meeting & Expo

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Recorded Annual Meeting Presentations (RAMP) are now available for purchase.
Only $90 for presenters, $140 for registered attendees and $200 for non-attendees.

Online Program

335612
Using Spatial Analysis to Identify Social Determinants of Health for People Who Are Paralyzed


Wednesday, November 4, 2015 : 8:50 a.m. - 9:10 a.m.

Anthony Cahill, PhD, University of New Mexico, Center for Development and Disability, Albuquerque, NM
Heidi Fredine, MPH, Center for Development and Disability, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM
James Johnson, BS, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Center for Development and Disability, Albuquerque, NM
Virva Walkington, BHS, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Center for Development and Disability, Albuquerque, NM
Audio (mp3) recording Recorded Presentation (mp4)
A substantial body of research documents the link between increased rates of disability and a number of factors in the built and social environments. Healthy People 2020 highlighted this link by establishing as one primary goals for the decade “Create social and physical environments that promote good health for all.” This session will use spatial analysis to explore correlations between key social determinants of health – socio-economic status, education, employment, race and health insurance – and prevalence and severity of paralysis in the United States in the eleven CDC geographic divisions. 

Paralysis prevalence comes from a national, random digit dial survey of over 70,000 households completed by faculty from multiple universities and the Centers for Disease Control in 2012-2013. The survey used a definition of paralysis adapted from the International Classification of Functioning that distinguishes between the medical cause (diagnosis) of paralysis and the functional capacity of individuals. Paralysis-causing conditions in the survey include stroke, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and others.

 Data on prevalence and severity of paralysis was overlayed with data on determinants from surveys including the BRFSs and American Community Survey. While the analysis is now being completed, results show that there are strong correlations between these determinants and paralysis prevalence and severity. 

Findings from this GIS analysis can be used to provide decision support to policymakers and informs disability policy by highlighting specific geographic areas of the country that present challenges for the public health community.

Learning Areas:

Epidemiology
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Assess the links between key social determinants of health and prevalence and severity of paralysis in the united States Describe the contribution that using GIS analysis, disability status and health determinants data can make to increasing our knowledge of disability and health Identify key policy challenges targeted at specific areas of the country to address significantly higher rates and increased severity of paralysis

Keyword(s): Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Health Disparities/Inequities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have over 35 years of experience as a principal investigator on numerous projects funded by federal, state and non-profit agencies. Health disparities among people with physical disabilities has been a focus of many of my research projects.
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.

Back to: 5042.0: Understanding health inequities among people with disabilities