Spatial variations in morbidity and their relationship with community characteristics in Central Harlem health district

Abstract

Data based on reports of illness and hospitalization from a household survey were mapped for the 33 census tracts of Central Harlem Health District. Factor analysis performed on a variety of variables revealed a community structure whose most important dimensions were ethnicity, marital/ socioeconomic status, usual source of care, perceived health status, and housing conditions. Associations found between factor variables and morbidity rates proved to correspond for the most part to previous findings based on individuals. Stepwise regression showed that marital/socioeconomic status for male hospitalization, ethnicity and housing conditions for female illness, and ethnicity and usual source of care for female hospitalization produced significant increases in explanation as they entered the analysis. Maps of six variables that were components of these factors were drawn and compared to the morbidity maps to confirm the statistical findings.