Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/29869
toolkit for use by public-health agencies in disaster settings to guide future policies and interventions to ensure that public-health disaster-preparedness mea- sures are inclusive of the specific needs of pregnant and postpartum women, in addition to all women of reproductive age. Durham County Community Health Assessment Durham County public-health officials and the Partnership for a Healthy Durham teamed with SHARP to conduct the 2011 Community Health Assessment for Durham County. This assessment was used to guide strategic public-health planning and offered an opportunity for Durham County residents to share their thoughts on the community’s most pressing health needs. SHARP provided GIS and GPS technical assistance to the Durham County Health Department in conduct- ing the two-stage cluster sample by designing a digital survey instrument, mapping potential survey sites, creating field maps, and providing onsite training and technical assistance to survey volunteers and staff. Public-health staff and volunteers completed 206 door-to-door surveys from June 18-21, 2010, using handheld GPS units supplied by UNC CPHP to navi- gate to pre-determined survey locations and collect the survey responses. Some of the questions asked during the survey focused on identifying the major health problems in the community and county, access to healthcare, emergency preparedness, and per- sonal demographics. Durham County’s eight current health priorities include access to healthcare, adolescent pregnancy, lSurvey site selection is accomplished using the PHRST Tools ArcGIS Toolbar. In September 2010, SHARP was part of a pre- deployment team capable of rapid deployment as Hurricane Earl was projected to make landfall on the North Carolina Coast. HIV/STDs, infant mortality, injury prevention, mental health, obesity and chronic illness, and substance abuse. Durham County public-health agencies plan to analyze survey results during the next year and release a comprehensive report to the community in early 2012. A public community health forum will follow. At that time, community residents, local lead- ers and elected officials will have an opportunity to assist in setting the community health priorities to address major community health issues for the fol- lowing four years. SHARP will continue to collaborate on research lTeam Epi-Aid volunteers learned how to use MobileMapper GPS units (left) as part of the Durham County Community Health Assessment. Mobility/GPS Special Issue with CDC to ensure that the health needs of vulner- able populations are properly addressed following disasters, and provide GIS and GPS technical assis- tance to local health departments during community- health assessments. Future research will focus on improving the site-selection toolkit and making the tools more accessible by developing smartphone and Web applications. Matthew Simon is a GIS analyst and research associate with the UNC Center for Public Health Preparedness; e-mail: mattsimon@unc.edu. A P R I L 2 O 1 1 / W W W . G E O P L A C E . C O M 21