The Measurement of Neighborhood Socioeconomic Characteristics and Black and White Residential Segregation in Metropolitan Detroit: Implications for the Study of Social Disparities in Health

Abstract

Research has suggested that the pattern of residence (integration or segregation) alone is insufficient to explain health disparities by race. Socioeconomic characteristics of neighborhoods where blacks and whites reside must also be considered to explain health disparities. This article has three aims: (1) to describe the component socioeconomic characteristics of census tracts (neighborhoods) of residence in metropolitan Detroit in 2000 for three indexes of socioeconomic position (SEP); (2) to assess the concordance of the three indexes of SEP of census tracts (neighborhoods) categorized into quintiles based on metropolitan Detroit census data in 2000; and (3) to compare the extent to which black–white residential segregation is revealed by SEP of neighborhoods in metropolitan Detroit. Census data from the U.S. Bureau of the Census (SF3) were used to define three indexes of SEP of neighborhoods, the modified Darden/Kamel Composite Socioeconomic Index, the modified Krieger Composite Deprivation Index, and an index of percentage poverty. Residential segregation was measured using the index of dissimilarity. The three indexes similarly captured variability in neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics. Further, sharp geographic inequality was revealed by race and socioeconomic status in the Detroit metropolitan area. The social and spatial structure created by the indexes will help researchers and policymakers better understand the effects of racial and socioeconomic characteristics as well as racial residential segregation on the complex factors related to social disparities in health by race.

La investigación indica que por sí solo el patrón de residencia (integración o segregación) es insuficiente para explicar las disparidades en salud por raza. Las características socioeconómicas de los vecindarios donde residen negros y blancos también deben considerarse para explicar las disparidades en salud. Este artículo tiene tres fines: (1) describir el componente de características socioeconómicas de los tractos censales (vecindarios) de residencia en el Detroit metropolitano del 2000, para tres índices de posición socioeconómica (SEP); (2) evaluar la concordancia de los tres índices de la SEP de los tractos censales (vecindarios) categorizados en quintiles, con base en datos censales de la Detroit metropolitana del 2000; y (3) comparar la amplitud con la que se revela la segregación residencial de negros y blancos por la SEP de vecindarios en la Detroit metropolitana. Se utilizaron datos censales del Bureau de los Censos de EE.UU. (SF3) para definir tres índices de SEP de los vecindarios, el Índice Socioeconómico Compuesto de Darden/Kamel modificado, el Índice de Privación Compuesta de Krieger modificado, y un índice del porcentaje de pobreza. La segregación residencial fue medida por medio de un índice de disimilitud. Similarmente, los tres índices captaron la variabilidad de las características socioeconómicas de los vecindarios. Más aun, una aguda desigualdad geográfica se reveló por raza y estatus socioeconómico en el área metropolitana de Detroit. La estructura social y espacial creada por los índices ayudará a investigadores y formuladores de políticas a entender mejor los efectos de características raciales y socioeconómicas, lo mismo que la segregación residencial por raza, sobre los complejos factores relacionados con las disparidades de salud por raza.

Key Words:

• blacks
• health disparities
• metropolitan Detroit
• neighborhood socioeconomic inequality
• race
• residential segregation
• social class

关键词:

• 黑人
• 健康状况差异
• 底特律大都会区
• 社区的社会经济不平等
• 种族
• 住宅区的隔离
• 社会阶层

Palabras clave:

• negros
• disparidades de la salud
• Detroit metropolitana
• desigualdad socioeconómica del vecindario
• raza
• segregación residencial
• clase social

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Health. We also want to thank the three anonymous reviewers and the editor, whose comments and suggestions have improved this article.

Notes

^aThe census data for the three-county (Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb) Detroit metropolitan area for this study are based on a total of 1,091 census tracts.

^aThe census data for the three-county (Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb) Detroit metropolitan area for this study are based on a total of 1,091 census tracts.

^aThe census data for the three-county (Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb) Detroit metropolitan area for this study are based on a total of 1,091 census tracts.