F. Data Analysis
Who lives in the Kingsbridge / Bedford Park community?
The Kingsbridge / Bedford community is predominately Latino in make up. It is a area with a diverse background and a varied population. In a manner which reflects the 2018 Community Health Profile, half of the participants identified as Hispanic/Latino. A community of new immigrants and long established residents, face shifting socioeconomic conditions. While a 36% of the population has reports to have limited English proficiency, an even greater portion of the population is foreign born. One key aspect for consideration is the poverty rate for areas like Kingsbridge Heights and Bedford Park. According to the United States Census report, these Bronx communities suffer from a poverty rate of 27.9% (https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/bronxcountybronxboroughnewyork). And yet these communities should not be reduced to data based on income. The Bronx is a center for female and minority owned businesses. This is confirmed by the United States Census report which claims that 110,222 out of 135,782 businesses are primarily owned by minorities. Meanwhile, 68,705 of those total Bronx businesses are listed as being operated by women (https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/bronxcountybronxboroughnewyork).
The Kingsbridge / Bedford community is predominately Latino in make up. It is a area with a diverse background and a varied population. In a manner which reflects the 2018 Community Health Profile, half of the participants identified as Hispanic/Latino. A community of new immigrants and long established residents, face shifting socioeconomic conditions. While a 36% of the population has reports to have limited English proficiency, an even greater portion of the population is foreign born. One key aspect for consideration is the poverty rate for areas like Kingsbridge Heights and Bedford Park. According to the United States Census report, these Bronx communities suffer from a poverty rate of 27.9% (https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/bronxcountybronxboroughnewyork). And yet these communities should not be reduced to data based on income. The Bronx is a center for female and minority owned businesses. This is confirmed by the United States Census report which claims that 110,222 out of 135,782 businesses are primarily owned by minorities. Meanwhile, 68,705 of those total Bronx businesses are listed as being operated by women (https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/bronxcountybronxboroughnewyork).
Source: Kingsbridge Heights / Bedford Park 2018 Community Health Profile
https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/data/2018chp-bx7.pdf
https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/data/2018chp-bx7.pdf
How do social determinants of health affect those who migrate to the Bronx?
WHO (World Health Organization) defines the social determinants of health as:
"The social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. These circumstances are shaped by the distribution of money, power and resources at global, national and local levels. The social determinants of health are mostly responsible for health inequities - the unfair and avoidable differences in health status seen within and between countries"(2019) (https://www.who.int/social_determinants/sdh_definition/en/)
This includes countless socioeconomic factors which all pertain to the relative to every individuals health and health outcomes. Respondents declared themselves to be concerned with issues such as walk-ability as well as access to food options and medical care.
WHO (World Health Organization) defines the social determinants of health as:
"The social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. These circumstances are shaped by the distribution of money, power and resources at global, national and local levels. The social determinants of health are mostly responsible for health inequities - the unfair and avoidable differences in health status seen within and between countries"(2019) (https://www.who.int/social_determinants/sdh_definition/en/)
This includes countless socioeconomic factors which all pertain to the relative to every individuals health and health outcomes. Respondents declared themselves to be concerned with issues such as walk-ability as well as access to food options and medical care.
Which factors limit access to healthy food options?
Participant responses have included duration of travel to work, access to supermarkets, the concentration of fast food restaurants, lack of culturally relevant food, and the cost of food options as limiters to their healthy food options. When faced with evaluating the merits of adequate sleep and adequate nutrition, one participant claimed "the cost of waking up even earlier to cook something nutritious before a 14 hour nursing shift is too high." (Interviewee 14). This participant finds herself over occupied with the demands of work and instead relents to eat at the hospital food court. The prices there are fixed and the food court is conveniently located with the respondents place of employment. Under such circumstances, outside factors limit the availability of food. Less specifically, the lack of cheap and locally convenient heath foods contribute to the social injustice which constructs "food apartheid".
How do issues of scarcity in terms of "healthy food" affect eating habits?
While healthy food options are relatively limited, 15 members of the Kingsbridge / Bedford Park community found that "Low-fat products (such as low-fat milk, yogurt or lean meats)" are readily available. In comparison, only eight people found there to be "A variety of fresh vegetables, fruits and/or nuts of acceptable quality". Oddly enough, a mere seven respondents found "Whole grain products" to be readily available within the community. A single outlier claimed that none of these "healthy food" categories were easily obtainable. This reduced availability of such healthy foods can lead to negative health outcomes. A diet consistently lacking in healthy foods increases the severity of health consequences. The relative scarcity of these healthy foods is sure to have drastic ramification regarding health outcomes. These negative affects are then encouraged by a lack of proper access to medical care.
Participant responses have included duration of travel to work, access to supermarkets, the concentration of fast food restaurants, lack of culturally relevant food, and the cost of food options as limiters to their healthy food options. When faced with evaluating the merits of adequate sleep and adequate nutrition, one participant claimed "the cost of waking up even earlier to cook something nutritious before a 14 hour nursing shift is too high." (Interviewee 14). This participant finds herself over occupied with the demands of work and instead relents to eat at the hospital food court. The prices there are fixed and the food court is conveniently located with the respondents place of employment. Under such circumstances, outside factors limit the availability of food. Less specifically, the lack of cheap and locally convenient heath foods contribute to the social injustice which constructs "food apartheid".
How do issues of scarcity in terms of "healthy food" affect eating habits?
While healthy food options are relatively limited, 15 members of the Kingsbridge / Bedford Park community found that "Low-fat products (such as low-fat milk, yogurt or lean meats)" are readily available. In comparison, only eight people found there to be "A variety of fresh vegetables, fruits and/or nuts of acceptable quality". Oddly enough, a mere seven respondents found "Whole grain products" to be readily available within the community. A single outlier claimed that none of these "healthy food" categories were easily obtainable. This reduced availability of such healthy foods can lead to negative health outcomes. A diet consistently lacking in healthy foods increases the severity of health consequences. The relative scarcity of these healthy foods is sure to have drastic ramification regarding health outcomes. These negative affects are then encouraged by a lack of proper access to medical care.
Are those that migrate / immigrate to the Kingsbridge / Bedford Park area more susceptible to a decreased quality of health? If so, is this largely due to the availability of healthy food options, or some other combination of cultural factors?
Those who migrate to the Kingsbridge / Bedford area seem to be increasingly susceptible to a decreased quality of health. The majority of respondents found their health to have decreased. While the availability of healthy food options is certainly a profound factor, there are too many circumstances to account for. Immigrating respondents reported that a destruction of family eating practices to lead to a decrease in health. For example, one immigrant from Mexico found that without shared family meals, he was more likely to eat fast food. Without the social interactions around the dinner table, factors such as taste and convenience were ranked as more valuable than nutrition.
What factors do the subjects take into account when discussing their own health?
One of the questions most fundamental to the project, was Question 12. When asked for elaboration in question 13, (Which factors have affected your health while living in the Kingsbridge / Bedford Park area?"), the participants responded accordingly. Responses varied dramatically, but participants often linked their responses with social determinants of health. Residents of the the Kingsbridge / Bedford Park community sourced their reported ills to conditions in the community like air pollution or the distance required to travel to work. Others blamed the quality, price, accessibility, salt / fat concentration or origin of food. Some claimed that the issues stemmed from points of personal accountability while others looked outward. Many participants claimed that their health has been negatively affected by limited resources. Social conditions such as access to medical care or the destruction of family structures after immigration were also linked to decreased health conditions. One participant, who was a Mexican immigrant, disclosed that his health has been negatively affected by the absence of family dinners. Meanwhile, another immigrant claimed that he could only afford the cheapest of ingredients as he saves the majority of his wages. After immigrating to find work, he minimizes expenses so that his wages can simultaneously support himself and his family abroad.
Source: Kingsbridge Heights / Bedford Park 2018 Community Health Profile
https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/data/2018chp-bx7.pdf
Roughly three-quarters of the interviewees (14 of 19) believed to have experienced a decrease in health quality while residing within the Kingsbridge Heights / Bedford Park area. While this is far from conclusive, this finding leads in a variety of other questions. The responses varied from dealing with social determinants of health, family structures and other such circumstances. There is simply not enough data to make a definitive statement and yet, even with such a small sample size, the majority of respondents finding their health to have decrease highlights the need for continued research in this area. One possible source for the majority of respondents noticing a decrease in health quality is access to health care. With the rate of avoidable hospitalizations being "more than double the citywide rate", according to the 2018 Community Health Profile, Kingsbridge Heights and Bedford Park suffer from administrative neglect. The rate of avoidable hospitalizations is representative of a population which is undeserved.
https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/data/2018chp-bx7.pdf
Roughly three-quarters of the interviewees (14 of 19) believed to have experienced a decrease in health quality while residing within the Kingsbridge Heights / Bedford Park area. While this is far from conclusive, this finding leads in a variety of other questions. The responses varied from dealing with social determinants of health, family structures and other such circumstances. There is simply not enough data to make a definitive statement and yet, even with such a small sample size, the majority of respondents finding their health to have decrease highlights the need for continued research in this area. One possible source for the majority of respondents noticing a decrease in health quality is access to health care. With the rate of avoidable hospitalizations being "more than double the citywide rate", according to the 2018 Community Health Profile, Kingsbridge Heights and Bedford Park suffer from administrative neglect. The rate of avoidable hospitalizations is representative of a population which is undeserved.
Source: Kingsbridge Heights / Bedford Park 2018 Community Health Profile
https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/data/2018chp-bx7.pdf
Health Outcomes
The results of my survey are are confirmed by the Community Health Profile in that it lists Obesity, Hypertension and Diabetes as three of the most common diet related health issues. Heart Disease, while not highlighted by the 2018 Community Health Profile, was found to be quite relatively common among respondents. Hypertension and Obesity were found to be the greatest two issues by previously collected data as well as through the utilized health assessments. Respectively, the diseases were reported five and four times by respondents.It is interesting to note that only three respondents declared themselves to be without medical conditions. As some subjects were hesitant to share such personal health data, this question had some of the lowest participation rates in the health assessment.
https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/data/2018chp-bx7.pdf
Health Outcomes
The results of my survey are are confirmed by the Community Health Profile in that it lists Obesity, Hypertension and Diabetes as three of the most common diet related health issues. Heart Disease, while not highlighted by the 2018 Community Health Profile, was found to be quite relatively common among respondents. Hypertension and Obesity were found to be the greatest two issues by previously collected data as well as through the utilized health assessments. Respectively, the diseases were reported five and four times by respondents.It is interesting to note that only three respondents declared themselves to be without medical conditions. As some subjects were hesitant to share such personal health data, this question had some of the lowest participation rates in the health assessment.