0

FACTORS THAT DETERMINE POPULATION HEALTH BETWEEN THE TWO

DISTRICT COMMUNITIES

Student's first and last name

Course number (including section number)
Date (Month Day, Year
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Governments and health stakeholders seek to attain health equity. However, health
disparities are inescapably prone to occur due to social differences. The differences, otherwise
known as the ecology of medical care, can be sociological, cultural, or geographical. These
factors include social determinants like class, income, race, ethnicity, gender or culture.
Differences and similarities of health indicators in Mott Haven and Melrose versus Hunts Point
and Longwood districts result from such factors. Therefore this paper defends the hypothesis
statement: Race, education, and poverty levels influence the differences in MH&H and H &L
districts, and poverty is the most impactful.
Institutionalized racism increases the health disparities already evident in these areas. The
discrimination bars individuals from accessing the best healthcare because of differences in
resources and opportunities associated with wealth1. Both MH&H and H&L have the lowest
non-Hispanic Asians, with a 1% rate2. The statistic is so low compared to their constituent
borough, the Bronx3. The districts have a high black community since the Bronx has the highest
black population. African Americans minority receive a lower quality of health services than the
white race. Also, racism widens the economic gap in society, further causing health inequality.
Therefore, the two districts have close to similar health indicators because of having similar
racial groupings.
Education level is a strong health determinant of any medical care ecology. The more
educated individuals are, the better access they have to high-quality healthcare. People with
better education are conversant with their healthcare needs and accessibility and are more likely
to get well-paying jobs. H & L is among the district communities with the highest elementary
school absenteeism, at 35%, which has a higher impact considering that it affects the education
outcome of the youth.4. Both H&L and MH&M have low one-time high school graduation at the
rate of 58% and 62%, respectively5. H&L performs slightly better in the socioeconomic
education factor. The slight disparity in education shows the better performance of H&L in the
number of people insured.
However, the marginal difference between the two districts is minimal, considering other
factors like poverty come into play. Poverty levels influence the population health of a given
geographical area. Both H&L are in the same poverty group. The districts have 26% to 34% of
people living under 100% of New York's calculated poverty threshold based on income and
necessary expenses.6. Poverty is a multidimensional factor that includes racism and education in
determining people's economic power to access better healthcare7. These poverty levels are
increased further by institutionalized racism and educational disparity. Ultimately, there will be a
continued gap between the citizens in the two district communities and the rest of New York
City.
1
New York City Health. "New York City Community Health Profiles 2018 Map Atlas." Welcome to NYC.gov |
City of New York. Accessed November 7, 2022. https://www.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/data/2018-chp-
atlas.pdf
2
Ibid
3
New York City Health. "Community Health Profiles - NYC Health." Welcome to NYC.gov | City of New York.
Accessed November 7, 2022. https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/data/data-publications/profiles.page.
4
New York City Health. "New York City Community Health Profiles 2018 Map Atlas”
5
Ibid
6
Ibid
7
Beech, Bettina M., Chandra Ford, Roland J. Thorpe, Marino A. Bruce, and Keith C. Norris. "Poverty, Racism, and
the Public Health Crisis in America." Frontiers in Public Health 9 (2021). doi:10.3389/fpubh.2021.699049.
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The government appreciates the factors in medical care ecology to achieve equality of
health services and outcomes. These factors determine the quality and access of the communities
to healthcare. Most of the demographic and social characteristics end up causing economic
disparity, which impacts health disparity.
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Bibliography

New York City Health. "Community Health Profiles - NYC Health." Welcome to NYC.gov |
City of New York. Accessed November 7, 2022.
https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/data/data-publications/profiles.page.
New York City Health. "New York City Community Health Profiles 2018 Map Atlas."
Welcome to NYC.gov | City of New York. Accessed November 7, 2022.
https://www.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/data/2018-chp-atlas.pdf
Beech, Bettina M., Chandra Ford, Roland J. Thorpe, Marino A. Bruce, and Keith C. Norris.
"Poverty, Racism, and the Public Health Crisis in America." Frontiers in Public
Health 9 (2021). doi:10.3389/fpubh.2021.699049.