Writing Assignment 2 - Comparing populations and standardizing CDR The objectives of this assignment are to: A) To allow you to compare ages and crude rates between two different cities; B) To give you the experience of trying to locate data or a city and C) To give you the chance of standardizing mortality data. Here's what I hope will be a helpful hint for this WA, and will help each of you start - to get a picture of the age demographi go to http://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/. Now follow the steps below to complete the assignment: 1. Now using the census data for the two cities mentioned below, develop age pyramids so you can compare the two cities by age for 2010. You should end up with a single pyramid that compares both cities by age: City 1: Houston, Texas City 2: Miami, Florida 2. Discuss the differences, if any by age between the two cities and hypothesis as to what those differences might mean in terms of crude death rates. 3. now- locate/calculate the crude death rate (CDR) for each city, or if that data is not available, calculate the rate by the county in which the city resides. This type of data is usually available from the city, or from the county, health department. IF it's not, check the NCHS for the state data. Important Note: Make sure you are using the CDR not the Age Adjusted Death Rates. Also, beware of the denominator - is it 1000, 10,000 or 100,000. If one uses 10,000 and the other city uses 100,000 break the largest one down so it matches the other. 4. Then, using the CDR, create a standardized mortality rate to compensate for the age differences between the two cities. As a planner what have you learned from this comparison and how might it be helpful for you when planning for future health care needs.

Writing Assignment 2 - Comparing populations and standardizing CDR The objectives of this assigmment are to: A) To allow you to compare ages and crude rates between two different cities; B) To give you the experience of trying to locate data or a city and C) To give you the chance of standardizing mortality data. Here's what I hope will be a helpful hint for this WA, and will help each of you start - to get a picture of the age demographics go to http://www census gov'quickfactstable/. Now follow the steps below to complete the assignment: 1. Now using the census data for the two cities mentioned below, develop age pyramids so you can compare the two cities by age for 2010 . You should end up with a single pyramid that compares both cities by age: City 1: Houston, Texas City 2: Miami, Florida 2. Discuss the differences, if any by age between the two cities and hypothesis as to what those differences might mean in terms of crude death rates. 3. now- locate/calculate the crude death rate (CDR) for each city, or if that data is not available, calculate the rate by the county in which the city resides. This type of data is usually available from the city, or from the county, health department. IF it's not, check the NCHS for the state data. Important Note: Make sure you are using the CDR not the Age Adjusted Death Rates. Also, beware of the denominator - is it 1000,10,000 or 100,000 . If one uses 10,000 and the other city uses 100,000 break the largest one down so it matches the other: 4. Then, using the CDR, create a standardized mortality rate to compensate for the age differences between the two cities. As a plamer what have you learned from this comparison and how might it be helpful for you when plamning for future health care needs