Neighborhood Quality of Life and Health (NQOLH) Rankings: The Atlanta Dashboard

Background: The Atlanta Neighborhood Quality of Life and Health Project (NQOLH) confirms the notion of “healthography” through novel geographic information systems (GIS) data analysis, interpretation and application. NQoLH demonstrates that neighborhood of residence directly affects one’s health outcomes and quality of life, and that both are critical considerations in determining neighborhood planning and health promotion strategies.

Methods: NQoLH first develops a multi-attribute neighborhood quality of life index that examines place-based amenities and the social and physical environment at the neighborhood level. Second, the study assesses the status of neighborhood health based on measures of healthy food access, physical activity, and mortality and morbidity in neighborhood populations. Finally, the study compares the indices across the 25 Atlanta neighborhoods grouped by a socioeconomic status index.

Results: The results show that:

1) the relationship between neighborhood quality of life and health in Atlanta is significant; and

2) neighborhoods with relatively high quality of life and high health indicators are found in all socioeconomic neighborhoods categories.

Conclusions: The neighborhood indicators identified in this study can be used as a benchmark tool to aid policy and resource allocation decisions. While this data-driven case study is based in Atlanta, the GIS analysis and interpretation of data is replicable in other cities. Participants will answer place-based questions through an exercise using the interactive NQOLH website. This experiential learning exercise enables participants to adapt the NQOLH dashboard to other regions and identify ways of addressing health issues as they relate to specified social and physical environments.