Analyses of routine public health data

PHH-PRC researchers are analyzing existing health surveillance data–on behavioral risk factors, vital statistics, and other health indicators–that allow them to compare general health of Boston’s public housing residents to the health of other Boston residents. 

CDC, which funds prevention research centers nationwide, also oversees an ongoing nationwide telephone survey about health and health-related behaviors: the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, or BRFSS.  One of the PHH-PRC partners, the Boston Public Health Commission, conducts a version of the BRFSS survey in Boston about every two years.  The PHH-PRC has added a question to the Boston BRFSS questionnaire, asking whether the respondent lives in public housing.  This simple innovation allows the PHH-PRC to compare public housing residents with other residents of Boston across a wide range of health indicators and behavioral risk factors.   Analyses to date have documented that public housing residents were more likely to report fair or poor overall health status, high blood pressure, asthma, diabetes, obesity, and extensive tooth loss.  (The published research article describing this work can be downloaded here.

In much the same way, PHH-PRC researchers will compare Massachusetts birth and death data for Boston’s public housing residents to data for other residents of Boston.  The Boston Housing Authority, a PHH-PRC partner, has provided address information for public housing developments, making it possible  to distinguish vital records for residents from those for nonresidents.  For example, we are comparing overall, age-specific, and cause-specific mortality rates for the two groups, as well as birth rates and adequacy of prenatal care.

News You Can Use

The National Campaign for Full Funding for Public Housing in the United States is petitioning members of Congress to include full funding in upcoming legislation. Go to this weblink to find the petition and add your signature: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/
fullfundingforpublichousing/

Recent publications from PHH-PRC investigators:

Scammell et al., “Meeting People Where They Are: Engaging Public Housing Residents for Integrated Pest Management.” Progress in Community Health Partnerships 2011:5(2).

Rorie et al., “Use of a Resident Health Advocate Model to Improve Public Health Van Screening and Follow-Up Among Public Housing Residents” (Prev Chronic Dis 2011; 8(1)).

Douyon et al., “The GirlStars Program: Challenges to Recruitment and Retention in a Physical Activity and Health Education Program for Adolescent Girls Living in Public Housing” (Prev Chronic Dis 2010; 7(2))