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BACKGROUND: Health Impact Assessments (HIA) are a scientific and community driven process that utilize a series of steps to evaluate potential health effects of a proposed project, plan or policy and formulate recommendations that better inform planners and policy makers. Following the approval process for a Light Rail extension, it was determined that an HIA would serve as a strong asset to the Valley Metro Environmental Assessment report. Lead by Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) Office of Policy, the South Central Neighborhoods Transit Health Impact Assessment (SCNTHIA) team was formed. MCDPH Office of Epidemiology was asked to participate and provide insight into the data available on the existing health of the community.
METHODS: Secondary data analyses of Hospital Discharge Data, Birth and Death Data were performed over a three-year period (2009-2011) on both the identified study area and all of Maricopa County utilizing SAS®. Population, demographic, and economic data were obtained from ESRI® Business Analyst Online and the American Community Survey. Maps of all licensed food establishments, parks, recreational facilities, schools, community facilities and services, and healthcare providers were created in ArcGIS® to aid the Saguaro Evaluation Group, LLC with resource walkability audits.
RESULTS: Important differences exist among SCNTHIA area residents compared with all of Maricopa County. Demographically, the median age of SCNTHIA residents is 6.6 years younger than that of Maricopa County. SCNTHIA residents are also 37.8 percent more likely to be of ethnic minority. Economically, the median household income is 59.2 percent lower in the SCNTHIA area, with 29.2 percent of households below the poverty level compared to 11.0 percent of Maricopa County households. Spatially, SCNTHIA residents reside in a community that lacks walkable resources and are 15.6 percent more likely to be transit-dependent. Poorer health outcomes are also prevalent among SCNTHIA residents. Overall rates of hospitalizations and deaths exceed Maricopa County rates by 66.3 percent and 34.2 percent respectively. Key findings found the hospitalization rate due to mental health disorders is 280.0 percent higher and the death rate due to diabetes is 114.3 percent higher among SCNTHIA residents. Furthermore, SCNTHIA mothers are 52.5 percent more likely to experience complications of pregnancy, childbirth, and in the puerperium.
CONCLUSIONS: With a largely transit-dependent community, expanding the Light Rail will increase access to necessary resources. The project identified 41 specific recommendations to improve the health of the residents in the study area and include justification, agencies involved, and timeframes.