Question

How can high-income neighborhoods and low-income neighborhood both be reasonably determined to be “healthy” neighborhoods?

Answer 1

The neighborhood holds an important place as a determinant of our health conditions. Social and economic characteristics of the neighborhood have been linked with mortality, health status, birth outcomes and other risk factors of chronicle diseases. Physical and social environmental factors in the neighborhood can be hazardous and can severely limit the choices available to individuals. For example, an individual's ability to avoid smoking or drinking can be constrained by living in an environment that lacks safe areas for exercise.

At any income level, minorities are more likely to live in the poor neighborhood compared to a majority with the same level of income. Nearly one-fifth of all Americans live in a poor neighborhood.i.e. where at least 20percent of the people are poor. Rich families are mostly concentrated in neighborhoods with higher wealth. Poor neighborhoods are more vulnerable to affluent ones from reduced public spending. These differences in a neighborhood can contribute to health disparities given the disproportionate excess of resources.