An unsafe walking trail beside a railroad bed illustrates the safety issues that factor into public health issues in lower-income neighborhoods, health officials say. Update: Community leaders, residents discuss health disparities in Kent County Health Department video
The effect of poverty on a person’s health is spelled out in a stark way in data compiled by the Kent County Health Department.
Those who live in the poorest parts of the county are far less likely to live a long life – whether because of illness, accidents or injury – said epidemiologist Brian Hartl.
He tallied the years of potential life lost for those who died before the age of 65. In census tracts where 60 percent live below the poverty level, the rate is 375 years per 1,000 people. In the areas where less than 5 percent live in poverty, the rate is 100.
The fact that income affects health might not be an "aha moment," Hartl said, but the data highlight the public health issues facing the county as the poverty rate rise. One in five children in Kent County live in poverty, up from 16.3 percent in 2005, according to the 2011 Kids Count in Michigan report.
Brian Hartl“I think it frames the focus areas,” Hartl said. “What can you do to improve health in those census tracts, even though they are disadvantaged in terms of income? You have to look at the environment and the policy changes that will provide the opportunity for people to live healthier lives.”
Improvements needed might include safe areas to walk or play, access to healthy food, as well as access to health care.
Hartl presented his findings Thursday at a forum for health care providers held by the health department to address the racial and socioeconomic disparities in health care.
Looking at racial disparities is crucial, said Dr. Renee Canady, a medical sociologist with the Ingham County Health Department. She is a former Michigan State University professor whose research focus is on infant mortality.
In Kent County, black babies are far more likely to die before they reach their first birthday than white babies. The black infant mortality rate is 17.3 per 1,000 live births, compared with 4.4 for white infants.
That disparity – found nationwide – is not only caused by income differences, Canady said. Even among those with college educations, pregnancy outcomes are worse for women of color.
The factors that affect infant mortality rates among African Americans also affect hypertension, diabetes, obesity, asthma and other health conditions, she said.
Renee CanadyShe called on health care providers to consider the root causes – institutional racism, class discrimination and gender discrimination. Addressing them means going beyond “being nice” and “treating everyone the same,” she added.
“Sometimes, the most unfair thing we can do is treat everyone the same,” she said. “We may have to offer certain interventions targeted to certain communities.”
At the same time, Canady said health issues cut across racial lines.
The white infant mortality rate in Kent County is higher than the rate in 32 countries – including the Czech Republic and South Korea, according to the Central Intelligence Agency World Factbook.
“We’ve got to do improvements for everybody,” Canady said. “But we’ve got to do faster improvements for some.
“It’s a complex situation. We’re trusting the community to come together and say, ‘We want everyone to do better. “
As a step in that direction, all health department employees will undergo a day and a half of training in cultural competency, said spokesperson Lisa LaPlante.
Email Sue Thoms at sthoms1@mlive.com and follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/suethoms