Perception of neighborhood disorder and health service usage in a Canadian sample.
BACKGROUND
Neighborhood environment, both actual and perceived, is associated with health outcomes; however, much of this research has relied on self-reports of these outcomes.


OBJECTIVE
The association between both perception of neighborhood disorder and neighborhood poverty (as measured by postal code socioeconomic status) was examined in the prediction of health service usage.


METHODS
Participants in a longitudinal project were contacted in mid-adulthood regarding their perception of neighborhood disorder. Their census tract data and medical records were drawn from government databases.


RESULTS
Higher perceived neighborhood disorder was significantly associated with higher levels of total health services usage, lifestyle illnesses, specialist visits, and emergency room visits, even when neighborhood poverty and individual-level variables were controlled for. Neighborhood poverty was only significantly associated with fewer total hospitalizations.


CONCLUSIONS
Higher perceived neighborhood disorder was associated with higher rates of health service usage, suggesting further investigation into the mechanisms by which perceptions of the environment influences health outcomes.
Population Research Centre, University of Texas at Austin, 78712, USA. alexa.martin@gmail.com
Alexa
A
Martin-Storey
Caroline E
CE
Temcheff
Paula L
PL
Ruttle
Lisa A
LA
Serbin
Dale M
DM
Stack
Alex E
AE
Schwartzman
Jane E
JE
Ledingham
D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D011203:Poverty; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors