2009 Health of Boston Report

The 2009 Health of Boston Report has been issued. Some of these could just be random variations in the statistics, while maybe there is some cause/effect in other areas. Overall it shows that this is a safe neighborhood of relatively healthy people.

Compared to 15 other Boston neighborhoods, A/B ranked:

• Last in percentage of adults who reported having attended a neighborhood meeting during the past year (24% vs. 34% citywide)
• 3rd best number of people using or being addicted to drugs was a big problem in their neighborhood (only 6% vs. 18% citywide)
• 3rd highest % of Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels (1.4% vs. 1.2% citywide)
• 4th highest % of Births to Women Ages 15-44 (7.6%)
• 4th lowest % of low birthweight newborns (8.2% vs. 9.5% citywide)
• 4th lowest % of Emergency Department visits (84 per 1,000 vs. 110 citywide)
• 2nd lowest % of people perceiving more guns during the past year (3% vs. 12% citywide)
• 3rd lowest % of people think gangs are in neighborhood (8% vs. 19% citywide)
• 3rd lowest % of Nonfatal Assault-Related Gunshot and Stabbing Victims (1.2 per 100,000 vs. 9.1 citywide)
• 3rd lowest % of adults with asthma (8% vs. 10% citywide)
• 2nd lowest % of adults with diabetes (4% vs. 6% citywide)
• lowest % of High Blood Pressure in Adults (13% vs. 20% citywide)
• 2nd lowest mortality rate (543 per 100,000 vs. 753 citywide)
• lowest heart disease mortality rate (86 per 100,000 vs. 147 citywide)