Assignment Instructions:
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Select a Health Issue:
- Choose a common public health problem (e.g., obesity, diabetes, asthma, hypertension) relevant to LA county or of interest to you. Review the key indicators of health in LA County to guide selection http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/ha/docs/2015lachs/keyindicator/ph-kih_2017-sec%20updated.pdf
- Ensure that your health issue has sufficient publicly available data for analysis.
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Data Collection:
- Use existing literature (reports and peer-reviewed journal articles) and public health data from sources such as the CDC, LA county Department of Public Health, California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), or other national surveys (e.g., BRFSS, NHANES).
- No primary data collection is required.
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Conduct Descriptive Analysis: Your analysis should focus on describing the distribution of the selected health issue using the following three epidemiological elements:
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Person (Who is affected?): Analyze how the disease or health condition varies by demographic factors such as age, gender, and race/ethnicity.
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Place (Where is it occurring?): Identify geographic differences, comparing data across regions (e.g., Service Planning Areas (SPA), cities, different neighborhoods, or states).
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Time (When is it occurring?): Discuss trends in the disease or health condition over time, such as changes in incidence, prevalence, or mortality over the past 5–10 years.
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Project Report Structure:
Your final report should be structured as follows:
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Introduction (1 page): Provide a brief description of the health issue, its public health significance, and relevant background information (e.g., risk factors, associated morbidity/mortality).
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Data Review and Methods (1 page): Describe the data sources used (e.g., CDC BRFSS, NHANES, health department reports). Explain any key epidemiological measures (e.g., incidence or prevalence rates) used in your analysis.
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Descriptive Epidemiological Analysis (3–4 pages):
- Person: Present the data by demographics (e.g., age, gender, race/ethnicity).
- Place: Describe geographic variations, comparing different locations (e.g., Service Planning Areas (SPA), cities, different neighborhoods, or states).
- Time: Analyze trends over time, describing any notable changes in incidence, prevalence, or mortality.
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Discussion (1-2 pages): Summarize key findings and discuss potential explanations for the observed patterns. Consider social determinants of health, environmental influences, or healthcare access in your analysis. Suggest public health interventions or policy changes that could address the issue.
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Conclusion (1 page): Summarize the key points of your analysis and provide a brief recommendation for future action or further research on the issue.
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Data Presentation: Include graphs, tables, or charts to visually present your data (e.g., line graphs for trends, bar charts for demographic breakdowns, geographic maps if applicable). Ensure that all visuals are clearly labeled and referenced in the text.
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Formatting Requirements:
- Length: 7–10 pages (including visuals and references)
- Font: Times New Roman, 12-point
- Spacing: Double-spaced
- References: Include at least 5 properly formatted reference list using APA, AMA, MLA, or Chicago style.