Note: Sample table showing human developmental index (HDI) scores (0-10) for Community Districts 1 (D1) through 12 (D12) in the Bronx, NY. From DATA2GO.NYC by the Social Science Research Council. Retrieved May 4, 2020 from https://www.data2go.nyc.
This post was written by Mickelder Kercy, Evaluation Assistant for Bronx Health REACH.
DATA2GO.NYC is an online tool integrating federal, state, city and non-profit agencies data from 2000 to 2017. Data are available at the community districts and census tracts levels. Using the “Maps” button on the top left corner, a geomap can be generated to visualize on a map the percentages of Bronx residents with specific health indicators or characteristics (e.g., demographics and educational level), behaviors (e.g., fruits and vegetable consumption and exercise), outcomes (e.g., obesity and diabetes) and related mortality rates (e.g., diabetes deaths and heart disease deaths) for each county district. Data are also provided on additional determinants of health such as the environment and food system.
Data reported on DATA2GO.NYC reveals that Bronx residents have major challenges in living healthy, productive and long lives. The American Human Development Index (HDI), a scale of 0 to 10 combining three indicators (educational level, income level and life expectancy), ranges from 2.98 to 6.26 across all 12 Bronx community districts. Currently, Bronx Community Districts 1 through 7 have the lowest human developmental index scores (Figure 1 above) among all 12 Bronx community districts (Figure 2 below) and 59 New York City Community Districts. Comparatively, the NYC Community District with the highest Human Developmental Index score, is District 7 in Manhattan with 9.29.
Figure 2
Note: Map of Bronx community districts. From NYCdata: Population & Geography by Baruch College Zicklin Schoool of Business. Retrieved May 4, 2020 from https://www.baruch.cuny.edu/nycdata/population-geography/maps-boroughdistricts.htm.
Based on DATA2GO.NYC, the number of bodegas per one supermarket ranges from 7 to 37 across all 12 Bronx Community Districts. The district with the lowest ratio of bodegas to supermarket (7:1) is Bronx Community District 10. The district with the highest ratio of bodegas to supermarket (37:1) is Bronx Community District 6.
The percentage of Bronx residents who are food insecure (i.e., cannot consistently access adequate, affordable, minimally processed and nutrient-rich fresh foods) is above the national household average (11.1%). Food insecurity level varies from 11.90% to 23.70% across all 12 Bronx Community Districts.
Other statistics include:
• The percentage of adults drinking one or more sugary drinks daily ranges from 20% to 39% across all 12 Bronx Community Districts. Bronx Community District 9 (39%) ranks highest among all 59 NYC Community Districts.
• The percentage of adults who reported not having consumed any fruits or vegetables ranges from 12% to 22% across all 12 Bronx Community Districts with Community Districts 5 (22%), 6 (19%) and 3 (19%) ranking in the top 10.
These data continue to underscore the need for Bronx Health REACH’s continued partnership with Bronx bodegas and Corbin Hill Food Project to provide more healthy food options to Bronx residents on a regular basis.
According to DATA2GO.NYC, the percentage of public parks, open space and recreational areas available for use ranges from 0.80% to 33.80% across all 12 Bronx Community Districts. Bronx Community District 6 (33.80%) is the only district in the Bronx ranking among the top 10 highest-ranking NYC community districts that have large public parks, open space and recreational areas for physical activity. As recommended by the National Parks and Recreation Association, cities should allocate a sizeable portion of their land to public parks, open spaces and recreational areas equivalent to 10 acres of land for every 1,000 individuals. The consensus among researchers is that, in addition to the existence of supervised activities, the greater the percentage of public parks, open spaces and recreational lands available to community members within one and two miles of their residential spaces, the more likely community members will engage in physical activities. In the Bronx, there seems to be an association between land use availability for recreational and physical activity and level of physical activity among residents. Throughout all Bronx Community Districts, lack of exercise is one of the most frequent unhealthy behaviors and obesity is the most prevailing health outcome among adults.
• The percentage of adults who reported not having exercised in the past 30 days ranges from 25% to 35% across all 12 Bronx Community Districts. Bronx Community Districts 1 (35%), 2 (35%) and 4 (35%) rank among the top 10 highest-ranking NYC community districts for this behavioral indicator.
• The prevalence of obesity ranges from 24% to 42% across all 12 Bronx Community Districts. Bronx Community Districts 1 (42%) and 2 (42%) rank highest among all 59 NYC Community Districts for this health outcome.
Compounding the lack of physical activity among one third of Bronx residents and access to healthy foods in a county that has one of the largest produce markets in the world, Hunts Point Produce Market, Bronx residents were also dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic limiting free movements of residents within and outside the Bronx and their ability to stay healthy. These data paint a somber picture of the Bronx that reveals the borough has been suffering a public health crisis for a long period of time, even before the data provided by the Robert Wood Johnson County Health Rankings & Roadmaps report, where the Bronx has been persistently ranked the unhealthiest county, 62 out of the 62 New York City counties in the 11 years of the report.
The Bronx Health REACH Coalition founding since 1999 and its collaborations over the years with federal and state agencies, community leaders, faith-based organizations, other organizations and residents has had as its singular focus on the elimination of these health disparities and inequities. It is imperative that all stakeholders mobilize all available resources to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in this vulnerable county and continue to strengthen the socio – political and economic environment and infrastructures that will increase access to, and utilization of, goods and services promoting healthy behaviors and outcomes among all Bronx residents.
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