HDReAM aids Kalamazoo County in fight against STDs

The Center for Health Data Research Analysis and Mapping (HDReAM) at Western Michigan University is working with Kalamazoo County in its campaign to reduce the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

The partnership was built on HDReAM's recent work toward understanding the spread of chlamydia in the city of Kalamazoo. According to county officials (in an article on Mlive), HDReAM's data allowed the county to focus efforts on areas where the disease was prevalent and spreading.

"In this case we were able to help the county pinpoint their efforts toward treating STDs," said Dr. Amy Curtis, HDReAM director. "It is a perfect illustration of why we started HDReAM. Data mapping can be invaluable to public health experts when fighting these sorts of outbreaks."

HDReAM is also working with the Health and Community Services Department to coordinate their online mapping website with the county's health promotion efforts, creating templates for this community and others to disseminate maps of critical health-related information.

About HDReAM

HDReAM is a partnership between Western Michigan University and Southwest Michigan public health offices, including Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services Department and Calhoun County Health Department.  HDReAM provides health-related secondary data analysis and mapping services for the ultimate purpose of creating and disseminating a holistic overview of our community’s health in order to advance knowledge, understanding and strategies to improve the public’s health.