CT: Graduate Research Intern
State: CT

Skill Area: Data Analysis and Monitoring

Internship summary
The Program Development Unit of the Family Health Section provides data support to the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) programs in the Section. A component of its functions is to produce fact sheets on important MCH topics in public health. A fact sheet on low birth weight was recently produced within the Unit, and an additional fact sheets are planned. In collaboration with the state’s vital records registrar, the Unit receives birth and infant death records in the state. The Unit creates linked birth-death files for subsequent public health surveillance and analysis. These linked cohort files are available for birth years 2000 through 2007.

Purpose
The purpose of the proposed internship is to produce a fact sheet on prenatal care in the state of Connecticut, which includes summary statistics and trend analysis, common risk factors, and evidence-based interventions, and which can be widely distributed across the state.

Goals
The goals of the internship are to: 1) compile a list of four or five themes needed for a one-page, two-sided fact sheet on prenatal care in the state; 2) identify existing data or generate needed data for the fact sheet, in collaboration with epidemiologists in the Unit; 3) prepare graphs and tables, and develop summary messages for three to four themes; 4) prepare the fact sheet using existing fact sheets as a template; 5) provide a rewarding time-bounded work experience for a graduate intern within a state department of public health; 6) create a product of high value that can be distributed to the public within Connecticut.

Objectives
To accomplish this goal, we propose the following:Week 1: research fact sheets on prenatal care in other states that are available on the web, and identify four or five themes that tell important stories about prenatal care.Week 2: evaluate existing data within the Unit about prenatal care and identify needed data to develop the themes.Weeks 3-5: produce needed data for each of the themes, using existing linked birth and death records in the state, in collaboration with epidemiologists in the Unit.Weeks 5-7: create graphs and tables with summary statements for each of the themes.Weeks 8-10: incorporate the themes into the fact sheet, using an existing template.

Data or analytic tasks and activities involved
The project will involve searching the internet, evaluating important information on prenatal care, helping staff analyze available data, generating tables and figures, preparing summary statements, and placing information into an existing template. Additional activities in consultation with staff epidemiologists may include generating SAS code, evaluating SAS output, and interpreting statistical tests.

Required data or analytic skills
The proposed project will involve some use of large de-identified population-base datasets in collaboration with staff epidemiologists, and strong skills in Excel and Publisher/Word. The intern should have a strong grasp of public health as it applies to the MCH population. Experience with statistical inference, SAS input coding, and interpretation of SAS output is preferred.

Begin date
06/01/2010