One of the most frequently presented arguments against systematic changes is that of individual agency. An initial response to this may be that, ideally yes, an individual has the potential to overcome any sort of adversity present in her or his life. Unfortunately, a large and ever growing body of evidence is showing that policy- (and ideology-) induced inequalities and disparities are stacking the deck against most individuals and especially individuals of certain populations. One of the most compelling manifestations of this is racial minorities that live in concentrated geographies (e.g. that are affected by deliberate and incidental housing, zoning, and economic policies). Below begins a list of damning evidence...
(check back for updates, feel free to post other studies through comments)
Zenk SN, et al. “Neighborhood racial composition, neighborhood poverty, and the spatial accessibility of supermarkets in metropolitan Detroit.” American Journal of Public Health. 2005; 95:660-667.
Summary of findings:
Statistically significant increases in distance to supermarkets were found in poorer neighborhoods when there were medium and high percentages of African Americans. Contrarily, distances to supermarkets were relatively consistent regardless of income for neighborhoods with low percentages of African American. The disparity of access between low percentage A.A. and high percentage A.A. poor neighborhoods were extreme, with an average of 1.10 to 1.15 miles greater distances to supermarkets.
Interpretation:
It's much harder to make the "healthy choices" in a poor African American neighborhood than in white neighborhoods. Why is this? Implicated, intertwined, and reinforcing factors include historically racist / exclusionary zoning policies ("redlining"), poverty dispersal or urban renewal factors, resultant deterioration in social environment, lack of political will or power, lack of employment/economic power, loss of tax base.
(Read full post)
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Monday, March 9, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Inaugural Population Health Forum Retreat
On February 15, 2009, 9 members of the Population Health Forum met to energize around action steps toward continuing the mission and goals of the PHF. We heard about the history of the PHF and present day constitution of the group. After sharing our own unique pathways to and interests in understanding population health, we collectively came to concrete understandings of the issues behind the forum’s mission and goals.
As steps toward action, we brainstormed about potential audiences we hope to reach with our messages about population health and started to develop lists of allies we hope to connect with as we move forward in spreading the word about population health disparities. Finally, we outlined digital and non-digital mediums for which we hope utilize as we begin a new phase of outreach and growth for PHF. We will create a blog that can help intra-PHF communication and self-education. We hope that in the near future, the blog and other digital technologies can be employed PHF in unique ways to ‘spread the word’. We also began to develop an outreach plan for community events for awareness and action raising around issues of population health. We will report on our research and action items for new directions at the next PHF meeting, March 3rd, 2009.
Overall, the meeting successfully engaged new members of the forum behind the mission and goals of the organization. We are inspired, excited, hopeful and enthusiastic. We are ready to move forward.
- Tegan Callahan (Read full post)
As steps toward action, we brainstormed about potential audiences we hope to reach with our messages about population health and started to develop lists of allies we hope to connect with as we move forward in spreading the word about population health disparities. Finally, we outlined digital and non-digital mediums for which we hope utilize as we begin a new phase of outreach and growth for PHF. We will create a blog that can help intra-PHF communication and self-education. We hope that in the near future, the blog and other digital technologies can be employed PHF in unique ways to ‘spread the word’. We also began to develop an outreach plan for community events for awareness and action raising around issues of population health. We will report on our research and action items for new directions at the next PHF meeting, March 3rd, 2009.
Overall, the meeting successfully engaged new members of the forum behind the mission and goals of the organization. We are inspired, excited, hopeful and enthusiastic. We are ready to move forward.
- Tegan Callahan (Read full post)
Welcome to the Population Health Movement!
While we are indebted to the many individual and collective purveyors of health and equality throughout the ages, today we recognize the beginning of a new chapter in the Population Health Movement.
A key component in building the Movement will be to share thoughts and ideas, arguments and apologies, comments and criticisms, articles and studies in an effort to not only build our knowledge and test our ability to reveal the unity of health, equality, and community to the world, but also to use these explorations to attract kindred spirits in a common cause.
This blog will serve as that crucible in which our plowshares will be molded and from whose sparks our allies will be guided. (Read full post)
A key component in building the Movement will be to share thoughts and ideas, arguments and apologies, comments and criticisms, articles and studies in an effort to not only build our knowledge and test our ability to reveal the unity of health, equality, and community to the world, but also to use these explorations to attract kindred spirits in a common cause.
This blog will serve as that crucible in which our plowshares will be molded and from whose sparks our allies will be guided. (Read full post)
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