By Philip Newman
The New York City Department of Health report, “Women at Risk,” said the city's lowest rates for HIV were in Forest Hills, Glendale, Middle Village, Rego Park and Ridgewood. The highest rates were in Central Harlem, Highbridge-Morrisania in the Bronx. Central Bronx, Central Brooklyn and East New York-New Lots in Brooklyn.The lowest rates in New York City for obesity were in Fresh Meadows, Hillcrest and Kew Gardens Hills. The highest rates were in East and Central Harlem, and East New York-New Lots in Brooklyn.On the other hand, the areas where women were least likely to have a regular health care provider were in Corona, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Maspeth, Woodside, Astoria, Long Island City and Sunnyside.Women most likely to have a regular health care provider include those in Manhattan's Upper East Side, Greenwich Village, SoHo, Lower Manhattan, the Rockaways in Queens and Staten Island's South Shore.The Department of Health found that although the overall health of women in New York City had improvement significantly in the past 10 years, many of the health problems that remain could be mitigated by getting inoculations and periodic physical examinations, seeking a regular doctor and observing a variety of health promoting practices, such as stopping smoking and engaging in safe sex.Among important findings of the report:Women in the poorest neighborhoods have a life expectancy five years shorter than those who live in higher income areas.Hispanic and women with low incomes are less likely than others to have health care coverage.AIDS mortality is seven times higher for black women than for white women.Rates of low birth weight and infant death are higher in the black community than among other racial and ethnic groups.Black women are more than twice as likely as white women to die of pregnancy-related complications.Heart disease is the top cause of death for New York City women followed by cancer, influenza/pneumonia, diabetes and AIDS, but in each case the death rate among women for each disease is below that of men.”While New York City women are healthier than men in several areas, they lag behind men in some important ways,” the report said.”For example, data suggest that women have higher rates of obesity than men, and they exercise less than men. In part, this may be because public health messages about heart disease and its risk and protective factors have been traditionally targeted to men.”Reach contributing writer Philip Newman by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300 Ext. 136.
