Evaluating Obesity Prevention Efforts: A Plan for Measuring Progress (2013)
Chapter: Appendix G: Community Health Assessment and Surveillance Resources
Community Health Assessment and Surveillance Resources
The Committee located examples of community health assessments from across the United States (see Chapter 7). Table G-1 identifies indicator topics reported in the sample of community health assessment reports the Committee was able to identify.
TABLE G-1 Examples of Indicator Topics Reported in Community Health Assessment
| Indicator | Small Counties ( <50,000 population)* | |||
| Cherokee County, NCa | Hill County, MTb | Lincoln, MAc | McKean County, PAd | |
| Overarching (obesity/overweight) | ||||
| Obese adults (age, gender, race/ethnicity) | • | • | ||
| Overweight adults (age, gender, race/ethnicity) | ||||
| Overweight/obese adults (ages, gender, race/ethnicity) | ||||
| Overweight/obese mothers | ||||
| Healthy weight adults | • | |||
| Obese children (age, gender) | ||||
| Overweight children (age) | • | |||
| Overweight low-income infants and children (age) | ||||
| Students classify themselves as overweight | • | |||
| Overweight/obese children (gender, age, race/ethnicity) | ||||
| Goal Area 1: Physical Activity Environmenti | ||||
| Adult leisure time physical activity | • | |||
| Adult physical activity | • | |||
| Use of public outdoor recreation areas | ||||
| Use of public outdoor trails | ||||
| Awareness of available community centers | ||||
| Which of these community features do you use? | ||||
| Reasons these community features are difficult to use | ||||
| Safety for cyclists | • | |||
| Indicator | Small Counties ( <50,000 population)* | |||
| Cherokee County, NCa | Hill County, MTb | Lincoln, MAc | McKean County, PAd | |
| Elderly physical activity programs | • | |||
| Goal Area 2: Food and Beverage Environmenti | ||||
| Adult consumption of fruits and vegetables | • | • | ||
| Access to affordable healthy foods | ||||
| Reasons it is difficult to buy healthy food | ||||
| Goal Area 3: Message Environmenti | ||||
| Goal Area 4: Health Care and Worksite Environmenti | ||||
| Obese, received advice from doctor to lose weight in the past year | • | |||
| Adults, told by health care professional they are overweight/obese | • | |||
| Breastfeeding rate | ||||
| Any/exclusive breastfeeding initiation (race/ethnicity) | ||||
| Community-based prevention health services and programs | • | |||
| Availability and scope of health care | • | |||
| Effectiveness of health care system | • | |||
| Goal Area 5: School Environmenti | ||||
| Other: Norms/Attitudes, Obesity-related | ||||
| Health-related issues | • | • | • | |
| Priority issues in community | • | |||
| Indicator | Small Counties ( <50,000 population)* | |||
| Cherokee County, NCa | Hill County, MTb | Lincoln, MAc | McKean County, PAd | |
| Priority issues facing youth | ||||
| Unhealthy behaviors | • | |||
| Activities needed in a community | • | |||
| Perceived challenges of community | ||||
| Perceived strengths of community | ||||
| Community health needs | • | |||
| Factors that contribute to the health of community | • | |||
| Factors that prevent the health of community | ||||
* Small counties’ population of less than 50,000 residents; large counties’ population is greater than 50,000 residents.
SOURCES: a County of Cherokee (2008); b Larson (no date); c Communities Opportunities Group, Inc. (2010); d Center for Rural Health Practice and University of Pittsburgh at Bradford (2005); e Contra Costa Health Services Public Health Division (2010); f Center for Governmental Research (2009a,b); g Collie-Akers and Holt (2012); h Lee County Public Health Assessment Team and LeeCAN “A Healthy Carolinians Partnership” (2010).
i These are goal areas identified in the Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention report (IOM, 2012a).
REFERENCES
Center for Governmental Research. 2009a. Appendix B—Survey script. http://www.co.dutchess.ny.us/CountyGov/Departments/Health/Publications/HDICASurveyAppB.pdf (accessed April 24, 2013).
Center for Governmental Research. 2009b. Dutchess County ICA community health survey final report. http://www.co.dutchess.ny.us/CountyGov/Departments/Health/Publications/HDICASurvey.pdf (accessed April 24, 2013).
Center for Rural Health Practice and University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. 2005. Community health needs assessment. McKean County, Pennsylvania. http://www.upb.pitt.edu/uploadedFiles/About/Sponsored_Programs/Center_for_Rural_Health_Practice/CHA%20Final.pdf (accessed April 22, 2013).
Collie-Akers, V., and C. Holt. 2012. Douglas County community health assessment report. Community Health Improvement Partnership, Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department, Work Group for Community Health and Development.
Communities Opportunities Group, Inc. 2010. Town of Lincoln community health assessment & planning project. http://www.lincolntown.org/Adobe%20Acrobat%20Files/Healthy%20Community/Lincoln%20Healthy%20 Communities%20Final%20Report%20071210.pdf (accessed April 22, 2013).
Contra Costa Health Services Public Health Division. 2010. Community health indicators for Contra Costa county. http://cchealth.org/health-data/hospital-council/2010/pdf/2010_community_health_indicators_report_complete.pdf (accessed April 22, 2013).
County of Cherokee. 2008. Cherokee County community health assessment (CHA). http://www.mahec.net/media/nccha/cherokee.pdf (accessed April 22, 2013).
Larson, K. no date. Hill county community health assessment 2010-2011. http://www.dphhs.mt.gov/publichealth/accreditation/documents/hill-cha.pdf (accessed April 22, 2013).
Lee County Public Health Assessment Team and LeeCAN “A Healthy Carolinians Partnership.” 2010. Lee County North Carolina. Access to the world. Community health assessment. http://www.leecountync.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=YcCnyE8Z68k%3D&tabid=205 (accessed April 22, 2013).
