Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities in New Mexico Report Card

Health Status Disparities are defined as differences in the incidence, prevalence, mortality and burden of diseases and other adverse health conditions between specific population groups.

The New Mexico Health Disparities Report Card is intended to monitor the state’s progress towards eliminating the health status gap between different population groups and to create a more cohesive approach to identifying and addressing health disparities.

Although data are presented by race and ethnicity to describe the health status gaps, race/ethnicity is not the cause of a particular health condition or status. Looking at health outcomes by race/ethnicity merely indicates that some population groups bear a higher burden of disease than do others. With this information, better targeted policies and programs can be developed to address disparities and improve the health of all New Mexicans.

The 2007 Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Report Card contains data from a variety of sources from within the NM Department of Health. Five major racial and ethnic groups in New Mexico have been included for each indicator (even if data cannot be reported due to small numbers). The key indicators were chosen because of their impact on the health of New Mexicans. In response to feedback received on the first report card (2006), the second edition (2007) contains a graphical display of data and also data comparing New Mexico to the nation, and/or males to females.

Letter grades are used to show how well the health system is doing at eliminating differences among populations by comparing outcomes for each group to the outcomes for the populations with the best rate.

There is also an Appendix, which is a technical supplement to the Report Card that provides details on the indicators, sources of data and calculations.

If you have comments or if you would like more information, you may contact the Office of Policy and Multicultural Health's Epidemiologist, Vicky Howell, PhD, at Vicky.Howell@state.nm.us or (505) 827-2570.