Data for empowerment! The application of small area analysis in community health education and evaluation

This article describes the use of Small Area Analysis (SAA) techniques in public health education planning and evaluation efforts. An array of health and social indicators for a mid-size metropolitan city (150,000+) were collected as part of the evaluation of a Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) community partnership grant for alcohol and other drug prevention. Data sources included the state public health department, school system, hospitals, census bureau, police department, and the city administration. Germane health and social indicators were then calculated for each of the city's socio-historical neighborhoods or zip code area. The process of gaining access to these diverse data and how they were used for planning and evaluation purposes are detailed and typical problems encountered in utilizing SAA techniques are enumerated. Finally, the potential for SAA as a community organizing tool for galvanizing community responses is discussed.