Data Limitations and Details

Health disparities indicate differences in health linked with social, economic and/or environmental disadvantages. Health disparities adversely affect communities who have systematically experienced greater barriers to healthcare, based on their racial or ethnic group; religion; socioeconomic status; gender; age; mental health; cognitive, sensory or physical disability; sexual orientation or gender identity; geographic location; or other characteristics historically linked to discrimination or exclusion.29

Data Limitations and Details

The health equity data was primarily captured from the Florida Health Community Health Assessment Resource Tool Set (FLHealthCharts) database and the United States Census Bureau 2015-2019 American Community Survey (ACS) which covers a broad range of topics about social, economic, demographic and housing characteristics of the U.S. population. The primary advantage of using multiyear estimates is the increased statistical reliability of the data for less populated areas and small population subgroups.

In addition to limitations noted above and earlier in the report, it is important to note that some health equity data can have percentage changes that look dramatic simply because the raw counts of some populations are so small.

As part of county-specific summaries, there are data change tables utilizing The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) model. The SVI was developed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a metric for analyzing data to identify vulnerable populations.

The SVI may be used to rank overall population well-being and mobility relative to County and State averages. The SVI can also be used to determine the most vulnerable populations during disaster preparedness and public health emergencies (e.g., pandemics). The SVI tables include 2021 Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) and note increases of more than 10% (up or down) from the 2010 American Community Survey 5-Year estimate and the FRED Economic Data.

29Health.gov. How does Healthy People 2030 define health disparities and health equity?