How is data typically collected for community health needs assessments?

Data collection for community health needs assessments is typically a multifaceted process that includes various methods to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the community's health status. The correct method of collecting data involves utilizing surveys, health records, and demographic information.

Surveys provide quantitative and qualitative data directly from individuals within the community, allowing for insights into their health behaviors, attitudes, and needs. Health records offer a historical perspective on health trends and issues within the community, enabling assessors to identify prevalent conditions and service usage. Demographic information is crucial as it helps in understanding the composition of the population, including age, gender, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity, which all play significant roles in determining health needs and access to care.

The combination of these methods ensures a more accurate and representative assessment that can inform health policies and resource allocation effectively. Other options may focus on more limited or specific forms of data collection which would not capture the full scope of community health needs.