Health Analysis: A SWOT Analysis Of The City

Health Strengths

• The teen birth rate is half the city’s average.

• Adults smoke, eat fruits and vegetables and are physically active at rates comparable to the city as a whole.

• Drug and alcohol-related hospitalizations are lower than the rates in NYC.

• The rate of adult asthma and diabetes hospitalizations are lower than the citywide rate.

• The death rate due to flu and pneumonia is less than half the citywide rate.

• The rate of premature death (before age 65) is lower than citywide rates.

Health Risks

• Compared to the neighboring communities Queens Village (QV) has an increased risk of childhood obesity due to the large consumption of sugary drinks.

• Risk for increased stroke hospitalizations compared to the neighboring communities.

• The rate of adult psychiatric hospitalizations is much higher than the average Queens rate.

• Asthma hospitalizations among children ages 5-14 are much higher than the rates in other Queens communities.

• The top causes of death are heart disease and cancer.

• Despite a decrease in infant mortality across the city, the rate in QV is still more than seven times higher than rates in the Upper East Side.

Key Informant Interviews

• Interview #1: On February 8th I interviewed a 72-year-old neighbor who has lived in this community his entire life. He told me that many things have changed over the years such as farmland disappearing, a large influx of immigrants coming from India and increasing crimes against the elderly. He said that he “no longer feels as safe as he once did in the community and back when he was young people respected their elders and never hurt them.” On a bright note he stated, “I still have several safe places in my community to meet with my friends such the YMCA and my local

The IMR “reflects the economic and social conditions of the community, as well as the effectiveness of health systems. It also indicates health disparities between different populations, both within and between countries. Furthermore, IMR is strongly correlated to economic development, general living conditions, social wellbeing, and the quality of the environment, that affect the health of entire populations.” (Infant Mortality, 2012)

Community Meeting reflection At my community meeting similar concerns were discussed such as ¬¬¬the addition of the 116th precinct and the possibility of Creedmoor turning into a homeless shelter. I found this meeting to be very informative and a great learning experience. I learned a lot about my neighborhood 's concerns and several issues that are affecting it. Furthermore, I feel if nurses become more proactive within their communities many of these issues can be easily fixed and the population as a whole will benefit.

Implications (5)

• Educate the community about the health benefits of exercise to combat obesity and