Medical Service Study Areas (MSSAs)As defined by California's Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) in 2013, "MSSAs are sub-city and sub-county geographical units used to organize and display population, demographic and physician data" (Source). Each census tract in CA is assigned to a given MSSA. The most recent MSSA dataset (2014) was used. Spatial data are available via OSHPD at the California Open Data Portal. This information may be useful in studying health equity.Definitions:Race/Ethnicity: Race/ethnicity is categorized as: All races/ethnicities, Non-Hispanic (NH) White, NH Black, Asian/Pacific Islander, or Hispanic. "All races" includes all of the above, as well as other and unknown race/ethnicity and American Indian/Alaska Native. The latter two groups are not reported separately due to small numbers for many cancer sites.Racial/Ethnic Composition: Distribution of residents' race/ethnicity (e.g., % Hispanic, % non-Hispanic White, % non-Hispanic Black, % non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander). (Source: US Census, 2010.)Rural: Percent of residents who reside in blocks that are designated as rural. (Source: US Census, 2010.)Foreign Born: Percent of residents who were born outside the United States. (Source: American Community Survey, 2008-2012.)Socioeconomic Status (Neighborhood Level): A composite measure of seven indicator variables created by principal component analysis; indicators include: education, blue-collar job, unemployment, household income, poverty, rent, and house value. Quintiles based on state distribution, with quintile 1 being the lowest SES and 5 being the highest. (Source: American Community Survey, 2008-2012.)Spatial extent: CaliforniaSpatial Unit: MSSACreated: n/aUpdated: n/aSource: California Health MapsContact Email: gbacr@ucsf.eduSource Link: https://www.californiahealthmaps.org/?areatype=mssa&address=&sex=Both&site=AllSite&race=&year=05yr&overlays=none&choropleth=Obesity