A local community health survey: findings from a population-based survey of the largest Jewish community in Chicago.

Accurate estimates of health risk factors and outcomes are difficult to obtain for certain ethnic populations. The health of Jewish individuals is particularly hard to determine because of the small group size and because health data rarely include information on religious affiliation. Furthermore, local level health information (for any population subgroup) is limited. To assess health risk factors and outcomes, as well as issues related to access to care, within a Jewish community in Chicago, a group of community agencies and researchers initiated a unique, population-based health survey. Specifically, a three-stage sampling design was used to select a representative sample of 201 adults and 58 children in the most concentrated Jewish neighborhood in the city. Nearly 500 questions were asked, covering a wide variety of demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related topics. The findings revealed that these Jewish individuals were generally as healthy (or healthier) than the average residents of Chicago and the U.S.; however, many serious health concerns still existed. In particular, health problems such as obesity, depression, disability, and domestic violence were common and, in some cases, more prevalent than in the general population. This local level information provides the first accurate estimates of key health variables for the estimated 23,000 Jewish individuals living in this community. This type of data is essential because it enables the efforts and priorities of health and social service providers to be focused on the most pressing health problems. Moreover, this project provides an example for other population subgroups (based on residence, ethnicity, religious affiliation, country of origin, or other characteristics) who would benefit from local level health information.