Exploring Health Disparities and Socioeconomic Factors: Insights into Modern Health Outcomes Using BRFSS 2023 Data
Disciplines
Epidemiology | Public Health Education and Promotion | Quality Improvement
Abstract (300 words maximum)
The Centers for Disease Control’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) 2023 data collection provides a major insight into the health status of the United States and its diverse population. Understanding the current position of the population in the realm of public health in terms of health status is crucial for needs assessment objectives and effective implementations to be made to enhance the overall health of an individual. The BRFSS allows for a large grasp of understanding into health risk behaviors, health trends/issues for reflection. The accompanying codebook for this data set gives an extensive set of variables which reflect various aspects of public health in the country with 433,323 respondents participating in the survey. The research hypothesis proposes that socioeconomic factors influence an individual's self-reported status of health from a physical and mental perspective. This project uses statistical analysis methods within SPSS to look over the data and support the research hypothesis mentioned. Quantitative variables were also used for the analysis such as the number of individuals who needed medical attention but were not able to afford it. Preliminary analysis shows 37,198 individuals reporting not being able to afford to be seen by a doctor. Furthermore, within the BRFSS data set there is a ninety percent response rate reporting at least one to twenty days of self-reported negative health in the past thirty days. A Pearson correlation analysis also saw a moderate positive relationship between participants' self-reported physical health and overall quantity of health interfered with normal activities. The preliminary analysis done so far indicates that socioeconomic factors affect individuals' ability to report positive health status. The findings from this research have potential to inform initiatives in public health aimed at increasing access to medical care and improving overall health status, ultimately addressing health disparities.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
WCHHS - Health Promotion and Physical Education
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Kevin Gittner
Exploring Health Disparities and Socioeconomic Factors: Insights into Modern Health Outcomes Using BRFSS 2023 Data
The Centers for Disease Control’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) 2023 data collection provides a major insight into the health status of the United States and its diverse population. Understanding the current position of the population in the realm of public health in terms of health status is crucial for needs assessment objectives and effective implementations to be made to enhance the overall health of an individual. The BRFSS allows for a large grasp of understanding into health risk behaviors, health trends/issues for reflection. The accompanying codebook for this data set gives an extensive set of variables which reflect various aspects of public health in the country with 433,323 respondents participating in the survey. The research hypothesis proposes that socioeconomic factors influence an individual's self-reported status of health from a physical and mental perspective. This project uses statistical analysis methods within SPSS to look over the data and support the research hypothesis mentioned. Quantitative variables were also used for the analysis such as the number of individuals who needed medical attention but were not able to afford it. Preliminary analysis shows 37,198 individuals reporting not being able to afford to be seen by a doctor. Furthermore, within the BRFSS data set there is a ninety percent response rate reporting at least one to twenty days of self-reported negative health in the past thirty days. A Pearson correlation analysis also saw a moderate positive relationship between participants' self-reported physical health and overall quantity of health interfered with normal activities. The preliminary analysis done so far indicates that socioeconomic factors affect individuals' ability to report positive health status. The findings from this research have potential to inform initiatives in public health aimed at increasing access to medical care and improving overall health status, ultimately addressing health disparities.
