Data Sources
Data describing sociodemographic characteristics, health determinants, and health outcomes were retrieved from various existing public health data sets. Some of these sources are maintained by HCI and some are maintained by the Center for Urban Population Health. The following are sources that the Center for Urban Population Health have utilized and maintain on this site.
U.S. Census Data (CENSUS)
The U.S. Census Bureau takes a census of the entire United States every 10 years, as mandated by the U.S. Constitution. While originally used for apportionment of the representatives for the U.S. House of Representatives, the census has evolved to serve many other purposes, including population-based research. Census data are available online at http://www.census.gov.
Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS)
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), specifically the Division of Public Health (DPH), is the state department responsible for public health in Wisconsin. For the Milwaukee Health Compass, DHS provided data to quantify radon risk, chlamydia rate (monitored through the Wisconsin STD Program) and HIV infection risk (monitored through the Wisconsin AIDS/HIV Program). DHS additionally supported the Milwaukee Health Compass through two additional sources:
Wisconsin Family Health Survey (FHS)
The Wisconsin Family Health Survey (FHS) is an annual survey carried out by the DHS, DPH, Office of Health Informatics. Conducted by the University of Wisconsin Survey Center, FHS is used to assess health coverage, health status, health-related activity limitations, chronic conditions, and health services utilization. All FHS data were adjusted using survey sampling weights (or reciprocals of selection probabilities for sampling units). To best measure specific health determinants, individual level data were purchased directly from DHS and contained only responses from within Milwaukee County. The FHS website is located at http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/stats/familyhealthsurvey.htm.
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFS)
The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System is a system of health surveys conducted by 54 state and territory health departments and coordinated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). BRFSS uses dual landline and cell phone samples to conduct interviews with scientifically selected adults aged 18 and older. Annual BRFSS data files are weighted by CDC to represent state populations of non-institutionalized adults.
To best measure specific health determinants and outcomes, data were obtained directly from DHS and contained only responses from within Milwaukee County.
2018-2019 Community Health Survey (CHS)
The Community Health Survey, is an 18-minute, phone-based survey of over 1,800 Milwaukee County residents that addresses adult and child health risk factors, health behaviors, and perceptions of pressing community health needs. This survey is based on the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey. It focuses on access to health care, tobacco and alcohol use, diet, physical activity, cancer prevention, heart health, injury prevention, immunizations, communicable diseases, mental health and chronic disease.
Data collection was conducted by Management Decisions Incorporated, and surveys were conducted by JKV Research, LLC.