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In an effort to bring attention to critical disparities in health and healthcare in New York City, the Fund for Public Health in New York (FPHNY) partnered with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) to collect, analyze and publish data regarding disparities. The New York City Health Disparities Chartbook, issued in May 2004, describes the social, economic, and racial health disparities in New York City across a wide array of health outcomes.
The report found dramatic differences in health between a variety of communities. The poorest New Yorkers are 4 times more likely to report poor overall health than those with the highest income, and in 2001 the life expectancy in New York City's poorest neighborhoods was 8 years shorter than in its higher income neighborhoods.
Significant disparities based on race were also identified in the report. The rate of new HIV diagnoses is about 6 times as high among Blacks as among Whites, Hispanic New Yorkers are more than twice as likely to have diabetes as White New Yorkers, and from 1999 - 2001 Black New Yorkers were about 3 times as likely to die from diabetes as White New Yorkers. In addition, 94% of elevated blood lead cases in New York City are among African-Americans, Hispanics and Asians. Eliminating these disparities would save thousands of lives.
The DOHMH continues to work on reducing health disparities and some success has been achieved. In 2006, disparities in colon cancer screening between Black and White New Yorkers virtually disappeared.
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To read the full Health Disparities in NYC report, click here. |
