The 2013 Greater Cincinnati Community Health Status Survey’s (CHSS) analysis of health data in our community found many health gaps related to income. The CHSS is sponsored by Interact for Health.
“The data show that having less money and therefore fewer resources and fewer choices can have strong negative health effects,” says Sister Sally Duffy, SC, President and Executive Director of the SC Ministry Foundation.
The CHSS found that only about 3 in 10 Greater Cincinnati adults (32 percent) with income at or below 100% of the federal poverty level (FPL) de-scribed their health as excellent or very good, compared to 63 percent for those earning more than 200% FPL and 46 percent of those earning between 100% and 200% FPL. One of Greater Cincinnati’s Bold Goals in health is that 70 percent of adults will report having excellent or very good health.
Ross Meyer, Vice President of Community Impact for United Way of Greater Cincinnati, says that while no group meets the Bold Goal, “It is clear that as a community we need to target our efforts on vulnerable populations if we are to reach the Bold Goal.”
For most questions the CHSS found that adults’ responses fell into three levels.
“Health status, outcomes and behaviors were best among adults earning more than 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL), lower among adults earning between 100% and 200% FPL and worst among adults earning 100% FPL or less,” explains Susan Sprigg, Research Associate, Interact for Health.
This was true for 20 of the survey measures, including self-rated health, smoking, health insurance, asthma, hypertension and depression. It was also true for adults’ ratings of their own neighborhood as a healthy place to live or the condition of their own home.
Adults’ responses to some questions were mixed. This could happen in two ways. In some cases, health status, outcomes and behaviors were better among adults earning more than 200% FPL than among adults in the lower two income groups, who were about the same. This was true for obesity, severe allergies, diabetes and heart trouble. In other cases, adults in the top two income groups (earning more than 100% FPL) did better than adults earning 100% FPL or less. This was true for access to healthy food, having no health care provider, and use of recreational facilities.
For some questions, the CHSS found no differences between adults in the different income groups. The CHSS found no difference by income for heavy or binge drinking, having access to safe sidewalks and for reported diagnoses of cancer and high cholesterol. There was also no difference by income in the percentage of adults eating enough of both fruits and vegetables every day. Adults in all income groups did poorly on this.
In no case were health status, outcomes or behaviors better among adults with less income.
“The variation between each of the three income categories demonstrates how even a modest increase in income correlates with improved health,” says Jennifer Chubinski, Ph.D., Vice President, Innovation and Learning, Interact for Health.
“Some of our neighbors do not have the same opportunities to make healthier choices,” says Sister Duffy. “They may not have a safe place to walk or an accessible location to buy healthy foods. What changes in environment, policy or systems will help us open a pathway to better health for everyone in our community, regardless of income? I believe we can do this individually and collectively. So let’s start now.”
More information about how the income of Greater Cincinnatians affects their health, and other CHSS results, is available online at www.interactforhealth.org.
