Socioeconomic Impact on Obesity and Diabetes Among Mexican-Americans

Socioeconomic standing was used in this study to compare the probability that Mexican-Americans in Brownsville, Texas would have poor health, and how likely they were to go undiagnosed for diabetes.  Those in the lowest of the socioeconomic quartiles were the most likely to go undiagnosed for diabetes, mainly because they did not have health insurance and were too young to be eligible for medicaid.  The only significant difference found between those in the first and third socioeconomic strata was the proportion of those who had graduated high school.  GIS was used in this study to study the distribution of those in each socioeconomic quartile within the city of Brownsville, along with data about the population in each area.  The houses were placed on the map using GPS cross checked with the actual street addresses to ensure accuracy.  Demographics about each area were also included in the map-making to show the distribution in each neighborhood.