Multi-Variant Bio-Statistical Analysis

About this Project

In collaboration with our partner, Ahiman Consulting and Research, Inc., Urban GIS was tasked with conducting a GIS analysis of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Center for Minority Health Services HIV/AIDS Communities of Color Initiative’s approach to developing HIV/AIDS prevention programs. At the time of this project, the HIV and AIDS case rates among communities of color were the highest in Illinois. Our task involved measuring the efficacy of programs in reaching those exact communities. Toward that objective, Urban GIS worked with a team of statisticians and researchers to review the extent to which the IDPH’s HIV/AIDS prevention goals were being met.

Before this task, geographic analysis of HIV/AIDS prevention programming was limited, and IDPH had only a general idea of how programming overlapped with at-risk communities. Using exhibits and analysis provided by our team, IDPH can now reconfigure its HIV/AIDS programming so that it is more accessible to its target audience. The IDPH can also create new programming to reach communities that were previously unknown because of their unique spatial distribution.

Our combined effort significantly changed the way the IDPH approaches HIV/AIDS prevention programming. Most notably, it has resulted in more targeted HIV/AIDS counseling and testing efforts within identified Illinois minority risk populations. Additionally, our work will assist with the evaluation of program methodology and outcomes.