Park Slopers Live Six Years Longer Than Residents of Brownsville, City Report Finds
Where you live correlates with how long you live — so says the comprehensive neighborhood health portraits released Wednesday by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. “These portraits will inform health priorities and allow elected officials and providers to make decisions that will reduce health inequity in their communities,” the Health Department predicts of…
Where you live correlates with how long you live — so says the comprehensive neighborhood health portraits released Wednesday by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
“These portraits will inform health priorities and allow elected officials and providers to make decisions that will reduce health inequity in their communities,” the Health Department predicts of the report.
Yesterday’s press conference at Borough Hall discussed the first set of profiles released, covering Brooklyn’s 18 community boards. The last time these neighborhood health profiles were updated was nearly a decade ago, in 2006.
The report shows that life expectancy rates vary drastically by neighborhood, often on a scale correlating with local income levels. In Brownsville, one of Brooklyn’s poorest communities, average life expectancy is just 74 years old, with significant rates of infant mortality and obesity.
This contrasts starkly to life expectancy rates of 80 years in Park Slope and Carroll Gardens. Compared to Brownsville, the more affluent neighborhoods also have significantly lower obesity and infant mortality rates.
The report also includes information regarding asthma hospitalization rates, teen births, and rates of HIV infections. For all of these, rates in Brownsville were double to quintuple the rates in Park Slope.
The Department of Health has further taken into consideration housing quality and supermarket square footage in making neighborhood comparisons.
Health Commisioner Mary Bassett notes in the profiles, “Longstanding and rising income inequality, combined with a history of racial residential segregation, has led to startling health inequities between neighborhoods.” She also notes that, “A person’s health should not be determined by his or her ZIP code,” reflecting on the fact that the portraits make clear there is a correlation.
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams has made the following comment on the release of the updated profiles, noting that essentially all data is good data because it will help communities improve their health.
“Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to understanding the various health challenges facing our neighborhoods. The updated Community Health Profiles will empower Brooklynites, from civic leaders to everyday residents, with a broad understanding of the measures that are advancing or inhibiting their ability to raise healthy children and families. I look forward to continued partnership with Commissioner Bassett and DOHMH leadership in translating the data in these reports into effective outreach and locally based solutions which put public health first in every Brooklyn community.”
[Photo: Wikipedia]
Related Stories
De Blasio Promotes East New York Rezoning Plan to Skeptical Locals
Future Flemish Brasserie Building Erroneously Declared Vacant, Tenants Ill From Construction
Your Complete Guide to Getting a Flu Shot
I’ve heard having thugs shooting at each other in pathetic turf wars has an effect on a neighborhoods average life expectancy as well.
I’ve heard having thugs shooting at each other in pathetic turf wars has an effect on a neighborhoods average life expectancy as well.
You just need to ban fried chicken and ban the use of food stamps to purchase unhealthy foods such as soda, ice cream, chips etc…and I am sure the residents of Brownsville will then live longer.
You just need to ban fried chicken and ban the use of food stamps to purchase unhealthy foods such as soda, ice cream, chips etc…and I am sure the residents of Brownsville will then live longer.
Montrose, you are in denial. You blame this on poverty…how about people making their own choices of eating all the bad food that they eat. Just line up in some of the grocery stores and you’ll see all the horrible stuff people purchase using food stamps. You regulate what people can purchase using food stamp and you’ll see Brownsville’s average age expectancy shoot up.
Montrose, you are in denial. You blame this on poverty…how about people making their own choices of eating all the bad food that they eat. Just line up in some of the grocery stores and you’ll see all the horrible stuff people purchase using food stamps. You regulate what people can purchase using food stamp and you’ll see Brownsville’s average age expectancy shoot up.