Goals
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Indicator Measures
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How are we doing?
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7.1 Retaining the Region’s Competitive Edge in Health Care |
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7.1.1 Research funding for health care |
In 2000, Boston received $1.078 billion in National Institutes of Health awards, a 14% increase from 1999 |
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7.1.2 ‘Right Start’ rank in child health outcomes |
In 2000, Boston ranked among the top 15 out of 50 cities on five of eight measures of healthy births. Improvement from 1990. |
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7.2 Unimpeded Access to Health Care Services |
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7.2.1 Percentage of residents without health insurance by gender and by race |
In 2002, about 8.2% of Metro Boston and 6.7% of Massachusetts’ residents 0-64 years old did not have health insurance. |
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7.2.2 Mental health services capacity for children and adolescents |
In 2001, mental health inpatient care in Boston was near capacity at 6 facilities.Outpatient waiting time was a week. |
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7.2.3 Language interpreters at major hospitals and health centers |
Languages spoken in Boston’s network of Community Health Centers reflect the needs of neighborhood residents served. |
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7.3 Low Rates of Disease and Mortality |
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7.3.1 Leading causes of hospitalization and death in Boston |
In Boston, from 1997-2000, the leading causes of hospitalization were pregnancy, psychoses and injury. Cancer and heart disease remained the leading causes of death. |
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7.3.2 Drug- and violence-related injuries and deaths in Boston |
Homicide rates increased between 2000 and 2001 by 69%. Violence-related injuries and drug-related deaths increased. |
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7.3.3 Rates of STDs, hepatitus C and HIV infection, and AIDS mortality by race |
In 2000, STD rates in Boston were at 721/100,000 residents. AIDS at 25 deaths/100,000 was highest among blacks. |
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7.4 Elimination of Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Health Outcomes |
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7.4.1 Infant mortality and birth weight by race/ethnicity |
Infant mortality among black Bostonians rose to its highest level in 2000 (13.6 per 1,000 live births) since 1993. 12.7 % of black babies born had low birth weight. |
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7.4.2 Asthma hospitalization rates by race/ ethnicity, age and Boston neighborhood |
From 1997-2000, asthma hospitalization rates for black children in Boston were three times the rate for white children. |
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7.4.3 Hospitalization and mortality rates by race/ethnicity |
Boston’s black and Hispanic residents had persistently higher morbidity rates. |
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7.5 Investment in Healthy Children and Adolescents |
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7.5.1 Women receiving adequate prenatal care |
In 2000, over 80% of Boston’s mothers had access to prenatal care. |
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7.5.2 Up-to-date vaccinations in Boston |
In 2002, childhood immunization rate for children 2 year olds in Mass. was at 81% and for 5 year olds was 95%. |
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7.5.3 Suicide rates among youth |
In 2001, 1 in 6 Boston public high school students seriously considered suicide in the past year and 1 in 9 attempted it. |
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7.5.4 Youth who engage in risky behaviors |
In 2001, smoking was down 6%, sexual activity decreased, alcohol use increased. |
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7.5.5 Youth who report a strong relationship with a parent or an adult mentor |
In a 2001 survey of Boston’s 13-19 yr. olds, 79% reported being able to talk with at least one parent about most issues. |
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7.6 Healthy Behavior |
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7.6.1 Percentage of Boston residents who engage in healthy behaviors |
In 2000, 38% people (18 and above) reported no leisure-time physical activity. |
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7.6.2 Obesity by age, gender, and racial/ethnic group |
In 1999, 46% of all Bostonians were overweight. Close to two-thirds of blacks and more than 50% of Latinos are overweight. |
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7.7 Low Rates of Environmental Hazards |
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7.7.1 Location of children and recreation areas vs. exposure to environmental hazards |
High blood lead levels decreased to 4.6%, incidents of asthma increased among ages. |
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7.8 Public Funding for Public Health |
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7.8.1 Trends in city, state, and federal public health funding levels |
Data in flux. |
