Running Head: HEALTH DISPARITIES OF CENTRAL HARLEM 1

Health disparities of Central Harlem

Name

Institution Affiliation
HEALTH DISPARITIES OF CENTRAL HARLEM 2

Health disparities of Central Harlem

Abstract

A healthy community would require interventions such as disease prevention policies

focused on boosting the health of the entire population. The 2021 healthy people initiative on the

other hand aligns the goals of a community in such a way its overall health score is improved

while the health disparities reduce. Therefore, communities like Harlem would require an

assessment the general demographics of the community in respect to 2021 healthy people goals

to ascertain the health disparities affecting the community. This paper imposes the of Participant

observation, focus groups, informant interviews and surveys techniques to gather data and

showcase how community participation can broaden the perspective and still offer solutions to

the health discrepancies affecting the community.

Introduction

AHR," (n.d.) defines population health of a community as the health outcome of

individuals within a given set which would include outcome distribution within the entire group.

Population health approaches vary based on socio economic status of the chosen community. For

instance, population health approaches of communities within the rural jurisdiction are

dependent on, engagements within the community, social determinants relating to the health of

the community, strengthened partnerships/corporations, and networking/coordination within the

community. Territorial assessment of Harlem would require a detailed description of Harlem

community which would require the specific such as race, age, birth/death rates, insurance status,

and life expectancy of the population demographics. The information gathered identified
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indicators of the health status of Harlem community and ascertain whether it meets the healthy

2021 people objectives.

Methods

The segment outlines research methods employed to conduct the study and the specific

techniques chosen to obtain and interpret data with proper emphasis employed appropriately.

Applying primary methods to conduct a study is critical in the sense of acquiring genuine and

absolute information appropriate for the research objective. The primary sources used to

outsource information for this study were in the form of official government websites, focus

group discussion interviews, articles and newspapers policy documentation. Secondary sources

on the other hand was based on literature sourced from books and journal articles both which

were segmental in the analytical process of the study.

Results

Harlem’s health profile as per 2018 NYC health report, the 116,345 inhabitants

accounted for at the time recorded an average of 76.2 years as their life expectancy. When

compared to the average life expectancy of all city neighborhoods which stands at 81.2 years,

central Harlem community fell short by 5.0years "Psychiatry for Harlem: Wartime activism and

the Black community's mental health needs, 1942–45," (2016). The report also identified mid

aged adults and children as the predominant age groups within the community. Children aged

between 0 – 17 years accounted for 21% of the population while those aged 25 – 44 accounted

for 35% of the population.

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The community district 10 recorded an average household income of 52,982 in 2019. Data

from "Centers of disease control," (2019) showed that 21% of those living in community district

10 were poor compared to Manhattan and New York city as a whole who recorded a 14% and

20% poverty rate respectively. The communities’ rate of unemployment stood at 12% as

opposed to lower rates of unemployment in Manhattan and New York City which stood at 7%

and 9% respectively (Juravich, 2019). The rent burden within the community was also high when

compared to other communities. While communities within Manhattan recorded a 45% rent

burden, Central Harlem residents had a 48% difficulty in paying their monthly rents.

Discussion

 Health of the community

Central Harlem ranks among the highest teenage births within the city of New York. The city

records an average of 87 preterm births in every 1000 compared to Harlem central which

commands 100 in every 1000 live births. The teenage births also stand at 23 in every 1000 births

within the community when compared to 19.3 teenage births out of a possible 1000 normal births

within the city. Even though the samples taken hold little weight because of the sample size, its

credibility and accuracy is certain. The community also has low number of uninsured residents.

According to a report by “AHR," (n.d.) the community was estimated to have an 8% lower

uninsured residents compared to New York cities’ 12% rate.

Central Harlem has a high concentration of the deadliest air pollutant when compared to the

cities average concentration. "Centers of disease control," (2019) measurements of fine

particulate matter occupied 0.0079 mg/m3 which slightly outperformed the city’s average. The

average number of smokers within the city were higher when compared to those in Central
HEALTH DISPARITIES OF CENTRAL HARLEM 5

Harlem. 14% of the city’s population was entirely smokers as opposed to central Harlem

community which was comprised of only 10% of the population. Health related statistics were

also on their high in central Harlem with the diabetic, high blood pressure and obese residents

standing at 12%, 35% and 34% respectively contrary to the city residents’ statistics averaging

11%, 28%, and 24% respectively.

Social factors

The health discrepancies patterns identified in central Harlem is greatly influenced by

social factors within the healthcare that are closely linked to the structural pattern of racism

within a given community. The impact of imposing policies aligned to discrimination have had

dire consequences of to the communities involved. A good example of such a policy is the

redlining policy that limits the opportunities that both communities would enjoy if they chose to

stay together harmoniously. Consequences of imposing extend far and wide in the long run

affecting poverty rates, life expectancy, housing quality, environmental neighborhood health and

asthma rates of either the child or adult. Taking into consideration the overall health of Harlem

community, the health issues affecting the community relate with experiences they’ve had in the

past regarding racial profiling. According to research by "Centers of disease control," (2019)

community residents affected by racism whether directly or indirectly are more likely to suffer

from chronic stress, a condition that contributes to high death rates from cardiovascular diseases

especially for the Hispanic and African American population living in the US.

The health conditions affecting the community within central Harlem are caused by high

poverty rates, substandard quality of housing, and violence against law enforcement issues that

contrary align with the healthy people 2021 objectives under social determinants of living a
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healthy life. Public health attributes deaths resulting from avoidable causes as avertable deaths

that could easily be contained.

Conclusion

The lessons drowned from the study identified focus groups as an instrumental source

when trying to understand the impact of any health related issues affecting a given community.

While primary credible sources create loopholes, focus groups help brainstorm the whole idea an

still offer impeachable solutions. For instance, primary sources of data could only manage to

identify poorly maintained houses however, engaging their sources made it possible for housing

infrastructure project to be connected a healthy community in a bid to achieve healthy people

2021 objectives
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