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As of the 2000 Census, Boston’s population was more than 50% people of color. Almost 75% of Boston teenagers are of color, as are 86% of the children and youth in Boston’s public schools. The future health of the city and the region greatly depends on our ability to improve outcomes for this population.
Racial/ethnic disparities in health outcomes are believed to have multiple determinants that include unequal living conditions (including safety), unequal access to resources and services that preserve health, and lifestyle (diet, exercise, smoking).
Social and economic disparities affect patterns of access to health resources and services in Boston, reflecting historic patterns of lower incomes, higher unemployment, and lower educational attainment levels among people of color. People of color in many Boston neighborhoods also face higher environmental health risks. According to data from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Boston Public Health Commission, Boston’s black, Latino, and Asian residents have lower levels of tobacco use, binge drinking, and illegal substance use than whites, and are more likely to support environmental health protections such as smoke-free restaurants. Yet Bostonians of color are over-represented among victims of violence and have higher rates of hospitalization, low-birthweight and infant mortality than white Bostonians.
These disparities highlight the need for adequately funded, culturally competent programs to address community needs from infancy to old age with sufficient emphasis on preventive and primary care.
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