What You Should Know:
– The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced a major update to its Mapping Broadband Health in America platform, expanding its capabilities to analyze the intersection of broadband connectivity and critical health outcomes, with a particular focus on maternal health.
– The Mapping Broadband Health in America platform tool provides researchers, policymakers, and the public with valuable insights into the challenges facing communities with limited broadband access.
Addressing Critical Health Challenges
Initially focused on the link between connectivity and chronic diseases, the platform has evolved to address pressing public health issues such as opioid abuse, cancer, and maternal health. This latest update provides a comprehensive view of the factors affecting maternal and infant health, empowering communities to take action and improve outcomes.
Expanded Data and Features
The platform utilizes the Connect2Health Task Force’s County Categorization Framework to identify areas with high health needs and low broadband resources, highlighting opportunities to leverage broadband for improved health outcomes. The updated platform now includes:
- Maternal Health Risk Factors: Data on pre-pregnancy conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.
- Infant Health Outcomes: Information on infant mortality rates, low birth weight, and preterm birth.
- Broadband Access: Overlays health data with broadband availability and adoption information.
- Improved Filtering: Enables users to isolate and analyze specific data points.
- Expanded Broadband Data: Updated information on broadband availability and mobile access.
- New Cancer Data: Data on breast cancer mortality, incidence, and access to mammography services.
- Social Determinants of Health: Information on housing, transportation, food insecurity, and poverty.
- Enhanced Opioid Crisis Data: New data on opioid use disorder and HIV prevalence.
Chronic Disease Risk Factors: Data on risk factors such as excessive drinking and smoking.
