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![]() 268612 Health inequities in the Twin Cities region: How our changing economy may influence future health outcomesWednesday, October 31, 2012
: 1:15 PM - 1:30 PM
Using life expectancy and mortality rates and proxy measures of health, we demonstrated health inequities, related to income and race, persist in the Twin Cities region of Minnesota (Minneapolis/St. Paul and surrounding suburban cities). Using data from death certificates and demographic information from the U.S. Census and American Community Survey, we found relationships between measures of neighborhood wealth (median household income and concentration of poverty) and health. These social gradients, which show health outcomes are better for residents in wealthier communities. In addition, we found racial health inequities persist in the region across all income levels. When we explored how life expectancy rates have changed over time, we found some indication that the gap between health outcomes for residents of our regions wealthiest and poorest neighborhoods may be narrowing. However, recent economic and demographic shifts in the region threaten gains made and pose challenges to sustaining statewide efforts to reduce health inequities. We demonstrate how GIS mapping can be used to target interventions to communities with greatest needs and offer examples of local programs and initiatives that focus on reducing health inequities by implementing interventions that address the barriers to healthy eating and physical activity in lower-income communities.
Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practicePublic health or related research Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I was the lead researcher working on an updated version of our 2010 report, The Unequal Distribution of Health in the Twin Cities, which explores changes in health inequities in our geographic region during the past 10 years and considers implications of recent economic and demographic changes on health outcomes. During the past five years, I have led multiple community health needs assessments and program evaluations focused on reducing obesity and related chronic health conditions. I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.
Back to: 5206.0: Socioeconomic Status and Health Disparities
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