New Mexico’s Racial and Ethnic Disparities Report Card

Vicky Howell, Ph.D., Office of Policy and Performance

New Mexico Department of Health

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Overview of the Report Card

Funded through a State Partnership Grant to Improve Minority Health from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health

Modeled after North Carolina’s report card

Developed in a user-friendly format for the public

Updated annually

Generated the American Indian Health Disparities Report Card

Imitation is the best form of flattery – Delaware used New Mexico’s 2006 format

Purpose of the Report Card In New Mexico

Serves as the focal point for planning and activities geared towards reducing health disparities

Creates a cohesive approach to identifying health disparities

Increases awareness of health disparities

Elicits private, public and community input on possible solutions

Drives the activities of the Office of Health Equity

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Format – Changes over Time

Added trend graphs (2007)

Added national comparisons and gender data (2007)

Added section on changes in disparity (2008)

Added Pertussis indicator (2008)

Added table of contents (2009)

Added summary data (2010)

Adding fall-related deaths (2011)

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Topics Covered

1. Mother and Child Health (prenatal care, infant mortality, teen births)

2. Chronic Disease (adults with diabetes not receiving services, diabetes deaths, adult obesity, youth obesity)

3. Infectious Diseases (adults 65+ no pneumonia vaccination, pneumonia & influenza deaths, Chlamydia, hepatitis B, HIV/AIDS, Pertussis)

4. Violence and Injury (motor vehicle deaths, suicide, youth suicide, homicide)

5. Risk Behaviors (smoking, drug induced deaths, alcohol-related deaths)

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2002-2004 2003-2005 2004-2006 2005-2007 2006-2008 2007-20090

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Trend in Pneumonia and Influenza DeathsPer 100

African-American American Indian or Alaska Native

Asian or Pacific Islander Hispanic

White New Mexico

United States

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Methodology

Indicators reflect areas in which New Mexico’s rates are higher than the national rate (e.g. suicide), or

Demonstrate large disparities between populations (e.g. hepatitis B, infant mortality), or

Demonstrate both high New Mexico rates and large disparities between populations (e.g. teen births, drug-induced deaths)

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Methodology

Rates are calculated using standard practice for vital statistics and survey data

Handled small populations by using a 3-year rolling average

Disparity ratio calculated based on comparison of rates but only for populations with at least 20 cases during time period

Reference (comparison) group is determined by using the population with best (lowest) rate and at least 20 cases during time period

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Sources of Data

Vital Statistics (Birth and Death Certificates)

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey

Infectious Disease Surveillance

Uses of Report Card

Program Planning

Grant Writing

Academic Classes

Conferences

Legislative Hearings

Public Events

Community Awareness/Planning/Activities10

Challenges

Challenges -Grades (love them or hate them)–Perception of Rating Populations Not Disparities

–Program Perception of Rating Program Performance

Small Populations– Total New Mexico population just over 2 million

– Black/African-American population of <50,000– Asian population of <30,000

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Lessons Learned

Realized that the report card needed to be community-friendly vs. a technical epidemiological report in order for it to be used effectively

Consolidation of data on health disparities all in one document increases awareness

Serves as a key reference for planning, targeted activities and evaluation

Color and pictures help

Can’t please everyone (e.g. grades)

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Key Collaborations

Within the Division

– Policy, data, and desktop publishing perspectives

External to Division

– Advisory group

– Data sources

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Link to New Mexico’s

Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities

Report Card

http://nmhealth.org/dpp/health_disparities.shtml

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