Invisible Places, Invisible People: Facing health disparities in urban North Carolina

Background/Purpose: As a result of a community's low socioeconomic status, available services are diminished and underutilized. Low socioeconomic status manifests as sub-standard housing, decreased access to public transportation, inability to seek healthcare services, and reduced quality of life. Disparities are magnified in areas of constant demographic shifts and transience, ultimately leading to compromised health. This paper presents the results of a community diagnosis performed in a diverse and transient community highly concentrated with low-cost, multi-family housing units, and focuses on disparities regarding access and availability of healthcare services.

Methods: An eight-month Action-Oriented Community Diagnosis was conducted in an urban area of North Carolina. The strengths and challenges facing this community were assessed using qualitative data collection methods: participant observation field notes, individual interviews and focus groups with community members and service providers, and secondary data sources such as historical archives and public records. Transcript data were analyzed using qualitative methods and software to highlight major themes and concerns identified by the community.

Results/Implications: Preliminary findings indicate distinct differences in health outcomes and access to healthcare based on socioeconomic status. In order to eliminate health disparities in these communities, public health practitioners must continue to work with government and community leaders to ensure healthcare services are provided to and utilized by members of all socioeconomic strata. Integral to the use of healthcare services are availability of effective public transportation and provision of multi-lingual health programs. These amendments to the existing public infrastructure will aid in eliminating health disparities in this population.