Press Release

New system improves speed and effectiveness when answering

Questions from citizens about statistical data

In order to automate and improve the speed and effectiveness of the processes for answering citizens' questions on statistical issues, the Statistics Institute of Puerto Rico developed a new version of the system for answering questions. This new procedure allows managers and assistants of the Institute to see in real time the questions sent by citizens and to speed up the way they answer those questions. Through the tool of Google Analytics, the system allows us to know important aspects such as: demographic data, geographical data, if the user used a computer or a cell phone, the browser or Browser used, the company of Internet, among others.

“Using this new system, we will better know how long it took us to answer questions, what topics are most common among citizens and what resources were required to answer them. In addition, the tool makes it possible to generate quality control metrics, allowing the Institute to streamline processes, make better use of time, human resources and, consequently, public funds,” said Dr. Orville M. Disdier, acting executive director of the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics.

To use the new question system, people can send an email to preguntas@estadisticas.pr or access the link directly https://www.estadisticas.pr.gov/

Those interested in learning more about the Institute of Statistics can access the website: www.estadisticas.pr.gov. On social media through Facebook (@estadisticas .pr), Twitter (@EstadisticasPR) and LinkedIn (Institute of Statistics of Puerto Rico) accounts.

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Contacts:

Idia M. Martinez, R-28/787-603-3200

Lourdes Burgos, R-27/787-562-2932

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PRESS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE ACTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Results from the first food safety study in Puerto Rico presented

Under the name Puerto Rico Food Security Survey 2015, and in collaboration with the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance, BRFSS) administered in Puerto Rico by the Department of Health, the Puerto Rico Statistics Institute (Institute) presented the results of the first study on this topic to be carried out in Puerto Rico. The BRFSS is a continuous epidemiological surveillance system that is carried out in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States and its jurisdictions, including Puerto Rico. The study population was adults aged 18 and over and the response rate in Puerto Rico was 71.1%, placing us among the top 25 jurisdictions with the highest participation. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, food insecurity is a key factor that complements the undernourishment indicator and makes it possible to improve the characterization of hunger.

“The large amount of food imported into Puerto Rico, among other aspects, makes the population more vulnerable to food insecurity. This is why it is essential to know the statistics related to this aspect, as well as the risk behaviors, morbidities and health practices of vulnerable populations,” said the Institute's acting executive director, Dr. Orville M. Disdier.

From the most relevant data from this study, it is estimated that 33% of the population aged 18 and over in Puerto Rico were food insecure. Similarly, 21.7% of the people interviewed indicated that, in the 12 months before the study, there were times when they had to serve themselves less food or stop eating one of their daily meals due to lack of money. A quarter of these (25.8%) did so almost every month.

The study also revealed, among others, that the Arecibo region had the highest percentage of food insecurity with 40.6%, while the metropolitan area and Ponce were the regions with the lowest food insecurity with 31.8% and 31.4% respectively. 44.3% of food-insecure people perceived their health as regular or poor. This percentage was higher in women (47.6%) compared to men (38.7%). People diagnosed with a depressive disorder were 2.7 times more likely to belong to the food-insecure group than people who had not been diagnosed with a depressive disorder.

“One of the most revealing results is related to poverty and its impact on food insecurity. The study concluded that people with an income of less than $25,000 are 3.3 times more likely to belong to the food insecure group than people with an income of $25,000 or more,” said Myribel Santiago, Project Manager of the Institute and lead author of the study.

The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute is an autonomous entity, created by Act No. 209 of August 28, 2003, as amended, in order to promote changes in the systems for the collection and analysis of the information that is generated, so that it is complete, reliable and has quick and universal access. The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute is responsible for establishing criteria and standards for the collection and analysis of information from government agencies, and for supporting those private sectors that are interested in demonstrating and giving public evidence of the objectivity of statistical data. To access the study you can visit Publications.

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Contact: Lourdes Burgos, R-27

lburgos@upfrontpr.net 787-562-2932

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Puerto Rico Statistics Institute releases results for fiscal year 2021-2022

In one year, they update data on violent deaths, gender-based violence, child abuse and present the first report on the needs of the deaf community in Puerto Rico

September 12, 2022: The Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics released its Results Report for the 2021-2022 fiscal year, which includes a summary of the most significant achievements during this period.

“During the 2021-2022 fiscal year, the Institute continued and initiated several comprehensive projects and programs with a significant impact on Puerto Rico. This is thanks to technological innovation and the undisputed commitment of an excellent team,” said Dr. Orville M. Disdier Flores, executive director of the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics.

The report highlights the updating of data on violent deaths in Puerto Rico, through the publication of the 2018 Annual Violent Deaths Report. Later this year, the report for 2019 and then the report for 2020 will be published. The Puerto Rico Violent Death Notification System (PRVDRS) collects, analyzes and publishes information on all violent deaths in Puerto Rico that occur due to suicide, homicide, unintentional firearm injuries, deaths due to legal intervention (except the death penalty) and deaths with undetermined intent.

The report also points out that it was possible to obtain more and better statistics on gender-based violence in Puerto Rico, published in the Platform for Statistics and Indicators of Gender-based Violence. Regarding this topic, the Institute drafted guidelines for the implementation of the System for the Compilation and Management of Statistical Data on Gender-based Violence in Puerto Rico, in compliance with Law 40 of August 27, 2021, and worked with the Puerto Rico Police Bureau to draft collaboration agreements.

Disdier stated that, “in an achievement for the deaf community in Puerto Rico, the Institute conducted a study on the needs of this community, both the adult population and the children and the tools their teachers need to support them in schools.” This new product, called Deaf Community Needs Study: Interactive Report, presents the first results of the survey that the Institute conducted, both to deaf and partially deaf people, and to the general public. In addition, the interactive report presents the results of focus group interviews with teachers of students with hearing difficulties. The Institute will continue with additional phases of the study in fiscal year 2023.

In the same way, it should be noted in the report, the development and publication of the Puerto Rico Child Abuse Profile: Interactive Report 2018-2022, which consists of a new digital platform through which statistics related to child abuse are organized and summarized, based on secondary data provided by various local agencies and the federal government. Available statistics show the number of children abused per year, the rates of abuse, the geographical distribution of abuse, the distribution and magnitude of the types of abuse, the ratio of the perpetrator, and the contrast between Puerto Rico and other jurisdictions in the United States. Not only does this profile fill an information gap that existed since the previous publication, which dates back to 2015, but now the report is a digital and interactive one, in which the user can select between several years, categories and variables, and can even download the data for subsequent analysis.

“During the next fiscal year of 2023, we will continue to work on important contributions to the Puerto Rico Statistics Production Service. These efforts will continue to strengthen our capacity as a society to make decisions based on empirical data, which will continue, in turn, to help Puerto Rico set out on the path of sustainable socio-economic development,” concluded Disdier.

The Results Report of the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics is available, free of charge, on the Institute's website and its PDF version is downloadable through the following link: Results Report 2021_22.pdf.

About the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics

To learn more about the Institute of Statistics, you can access the website: www.estadisticas.pr.gov. On social media through Facebook accounts (@statistics.pr), Twitter (@EstadisticasPR), Instagram (@institutodeestadisticas) and LinkedIn (Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics).

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