Mapping Social Determinants of Cardiovascular Risk in Rural NC (2015)

Undergraduates: Amber Gautam, Postdoc contributor: Esther Thatcher, PhD, RN, APHN-BC

Faculty Advisor: Alice Ammerman
Department: Nutrition

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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity among adults in NC and in the US. Risk factors for CVD exist at all levels of the socio-ecological model. While studies related to individual-level determinants focus on medical and behavioral risk factors, this study focuses on community-level social determinants. Hertford County, NC contains underserved, rural populations at disparate risk for CVD and falls within a region referred to as the ¿¿¿stroke belt.¿¿¿ In this study, data for particular social and demographic variables associated with CVD risk were obtained from US Census data for Hertford County and pooled together. GIS-mapping tools were then utilized to create a layered map of Hertford County that geographically presents the prevalence of CVD risk factors throughout the county. This map can be utilized to identify health disparities and better target public health interventions in the community.