Visualizing Mortality Differences in Rural Health

• Activity Number: 85
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Sunday, July 31, 2016 : 4:00 PM to 5:50 PM
• Sponsor: Government Statistics Section
• Author(s): Erin Tanenbaum* and Alana Knudson and Marilyn Klug and Michael Meit and Joanne Brady and Tess Gilbert and Emily Arsen
• Companies: NORC at the University of Chicago and NORC at the University of Chicago and University of North Dakota and NORC at the University of Chicago and NORC at the University of Chicago and NORC at the University of Chicago and NORC at the University of Chicago
• Keywords: data visualization ; disparities ; rural health ; heat maps ; administrative records ; mortality rates

Abstract

Previous studies indicate that cause-specific mortality is often higher in rural counties compared with urban across the United States. Since the way in which we present data impacts people's perceptions of the information, we further investigate these findings by exploring visualization techniques aimed at conveying a message of health disparities. In this presentation we walk through our analysis process, lessons learned, and final visualization tools-- including maps and bubble charts. A quantitative approach utilizing National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) data through CDC WONDER was employed. The results include mortality rates by age group, rural-urban status, region, sex, and are cross-referenced to statistical results.