2002 Los Angeles County Health Survey Background Summary & Methodology
The 2002 Los Angeles County Health Survey
(LACHS) was commissioned by the Los Angeles County
Department of Health Services and conducted by Field
Research Corporation between October 2002 and March
2003. The 2002 survey was supported by grants from
First 5 LA, the California Department of Health Services
through grants to Family Health, Tobacco Control and
Prevention, and Alcohol and Drug Programs, and from the
Public Health Response and Bioterrorism Preparedness
federal grant.
The 2002 LACHS study expanded upon two previous
LACHS studies conducted for the county in 1997 and
1999. Each LACHS is structured to include both the
Adult and Child survey components. The overall
objectives of each survey is to update key health status
indicators, health-related behaviors, health insurance
coverage and access to health care among adults and
children living in Los Angeles County (across the
county's 26 health districts and 8 service planning
areas). The study also supports the examination of the
health behaviors and characteristics of the county's
major racial and ethnic groups as well as those
households whose incomes place them below the federal
poverty level. The goal is to provide health planners,
policymakers, community leaders and the public itself
with information about the health and health care needs
of Los Angeles residents.