Neighborhood and health-related outcomes: a study of adult Latinas of Caribbean and South and Central American descent in Miami.

Abstract

The present study investigated neighborhood effects on substance use, mental and medical health, and health-care access. We used data collected from a sample of adult Latinas of Caribbean and South and Central American descent in 2011. The findings indicate that for adult Latinas, concentrated disadvantage in neighborhoods is associated with increased risk of alcohol misuse and inability to obtain prescription drugs due to lack of money, while Hispanic/immigrant concentration in neighborhoods is associated with fewer mental disorder symptoms. Individual age, criminal justice involvement, religious involvement, intimate partner violence, and employment are also associated with one or more health-related outcomes. We provided practice implications for macro and micro social work practice. Future research is needed to examine the mechanism underlying the negative association between neighborhood Hispanic/immigrant concentration and mental disorder symptoms.