RT Journal
A1 McClaine RJ, Garcia VF
T1 Unnatural causes: Social determinants of child health and well-being
JF Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
JO Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
YR 2011
FD May 1
VO 165
IS 5
SP 476
OP 476
DO 10.1001/archpediatrics.2011.48
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpediatrics.2011.48
AB 
While seemingly unrelated, these entities—obesity, asthma, and violence—all share the common trait of being heavily influenced by environmental factors. The incidence of crime, including violent crime, is known to be increased in poor neighborhoods, and low socioeconomic status has long been known to be associated with poor health throughout an individual's lifespan. However, it is only recently that a direct correlation between crime and health disparity has been described. In Chicago, Illinois, neighborhoods marred by the highest rates of violent crime also have the highest rates of infant mortality. Again, while this connection at first glance seems obvious, the block-by-block spatial relationship of these 2 entities is striking. More than 75% of census tracts with high homicide rates contain a high level of clustering for infant mortality and low birth weight.1 The same neighborhoods exhibit poverty, increased high school attrition rates, and joblessness.2 However, the incidence of several seemingly unrelated pediatric illnesses, including obesity, asthma, and unintentional injuries, is also increased in these areas.1,3- 4 These neighborhoods represent microcosms of “new urban poverty,” demonstrating the previously described relationship between poverty, crime, and now poor health care on the street level.5