Funded Projects

Neighborhood Effects on Children's Health & Access to Care

Grantee: University of California, Los Angeles
Principal Investigator: Anne R. Pebley
Project Number: R40MC08726
Project Date: 9/1/2007

Final Report

Neighborhood Effects on Children's Health & Access to Care Final Report (PDF)

Age group(s)

• Perinatal/Infancy (0-12 months)
• Toddlerhood (13-35 months)
• Early Childhood (3-5 years)
• Middle Childhood (6-11 years)
• Adolescence (12-18 years)

Targeted/Underserved Population

• Hispanic/Latino

Abstract

Disparities in health status and barriers to health care access are among our most important national health problems. Elimination of these disparities is one of two central goals of Healthy People 2010. There is increasing evidence that the social and physical environments in which individuals live may play a key role in SES and ethnic disparities in health. The goal of this study is to significantly advance our knowledge about the relative importance of specific family and neighborhood characteristics in the development of these major child health problems. This project is based on the Los Angeles Family and Neighborhood Survey (L.A.FANS), a longitudinal study of neighborhoods, families, adults, and children in Los Angeles County. The first wave (L.A. FANS - 1), completed in January 2002, interviewed adults and children living in 3,090 households in a stratified probability sample of 65 neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles County. The second wave (L.A.FANS - 2) is in the field and will be completed in 2008. The project will use these data to analyze the effects of specific neighborhood characteristics on health status, health behaviors, and health care utilization. We focus on health problems (obesity, diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome) that are increasing in prevalence and importance among the child and adolescent population. The objective of our analysis is to determine whether potentially remediable neighborhood conditions have significant effects on these health conditions and on health behavior and use of health care.

Publications

Listed is descending order by year published.

Jones FM, Pebley AR, Sastry N. Eyes on the block: measuring urban physical disorder through in-person observation. Social Science Research. 2011;40(2):523-537.

Sastry N, Pebley AR. Family and neighborhood sources of socioeconomic inequality in children's achievement. Demography. 2010; 47(3): 777-800. 2010.