Rhode Island Department of HealthState of Rhode Island
Department of Health
Population data are important because they allow us to generate rates with other data about health outcomes, and they help characterize the population by age, gender, race, and ethnicity. These data can also help to determine the variations in the population and how communities should use resources for public health interventions and actions.
The characteristics of a community include things like local infrastructure, vulnerabilities, and available resources. Information about these indicators enables health professionals to take proper actions during emergencies, or to plan for disasters. The indicators in this category include: