Health Status in Los Angeles County Examining Health and Demographic Data by Service Planning Area (SPA)

Anna Rose Steiner • Introduction to Geographic Information Systems • Winter 2011 Midterm

BACKGROUND Results from the 2007 California Health Survey, a telephone survey of 7,200 LA

County residents, found there to be serious health disparities between different regions within Los Angeles County

The residents of Los Angeles West Service Planning Area (SPA)* have: the highest average income (20% have incomes below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL*); the highest percentage of Non-Hispanic White residents (54.1%); and the lowest percentage of individuals without health insurance (11.8%) have an average life expectancy of 84 years old.

In contrast, the residents of the the South SPA have: the lowest average income (72.5% have incomes below 200% of the FPL); the lowest percentage of Non-Hispanic White residents (2.3%); and the lowest percentage of individuals without health insurance (32.9) have an average life expectancy of 76 years old.

Background

*Los Angeles County is divided into eight "Service Planning Areas" (SPA's) for health care planning purposes.**The FPL is set by the federal government and $25,743/year for a household of two (2011). The data here represents households making below this amount.

BACKGROUND

Inset map Graph Boundary sub-set Selections Geoprocessing Graduated symbols

Skills Utilized

Los Angeles County by Service Planning Areas (SPAs)

Los Angeles County is divided into eight "Service Planning Areas" (SPA's) for health care planning purposes, including:

assessing health needs of local communities

providing services through Department of Health Services clinics and community partners

promoting health & preventing disease

collaborating with community groups to improve the health of SPA residents

Largest Racial/Ethnic Population by SPA

% Breakdown of Racial/Ethnic Population by SPA

Antelope East Metro San Fernando San Gabriel South South Bay West0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

% White % Latino % African American % Asian % American Indian/Alaskan Native

% Pacific Islander/Alaska Native

Percentage of Residents with Income Below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL)* by SPA

*FPL is set by the federal government and $25,743/year for a household of two (2011). The data here represents households making below this amount.

Health Insurance Status by SPA (Private* vs. No Insurance**)

*Private Insurance includes employee-provided insurance and insurance bought by the individual **No insurance means that individual is not covered by private and/or public insurance (MediCal/MediCaid).

Average Life Expectancy by SPA (in Years)

BACKGROUND Conduct research on health status in smaller geographic regions

with SPA’s to get more detailed information about health disparities per region.

Compare health status among racial/ethnic groups within SPAs and smaller geographic regions.

Look at the benefits that universal health insurance may have on underserved populations (like South SPA).

Investigate the ways in which race/ethnicity, income, insurance status and neighborhood contribute to health status among individuals and communities.

Next Steps