The Impact of Social Determinants of Health Discus
Analyzes health disparities in Newark, NJ, highlighting how social determinants like income, education, and insurance access impact chronic illness, obesity, and cancer outcomes.
Alice Edwards
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Utilizing social determinants of health, the population of Newark, NJ faces certain health
disparities due to the sociodemographic characteristics of the area. The limitations in economic
stability, access to quality education, and the number of uninsured residents lacking access to
healthcare services when compared to the state of New Jersey as a whole play a role in the
creation of these inequities. According to the US Census Bureau (2023), 77% of the population
of Newark have an educational degree of high school or higher and only 17% have a bachelor's
degree or higher. Due to lower education levels, as well as occupational and income limitations
coupled with the increased cost of living, an estimated 24% of the population in Newark lives in
poverty ("QuickFacts", 2023). Many jobs do not include coverage of benefits and with financial
constraints insurance and access can be difficult leading to 20% of the population under 65 years
of age living in Newark being uninsured ("QuickFacts", 2023).
Underprivileged populations with fewer incidences of learning opportunities and reduced
financial freedom are armed with less information and restricted from accessing resources
necessary for attaining healthy living and lifestyle choices that improve disease prevention. A
lack of information and understanding of what foods to eat, how much physical activity to
engage in, and what habits are increasingly dangerous leads to a higher incidence of obesity and
chronic illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes. Essex County has a higher incidence of
obesity (31.4%) than the state (27.9%) due to reduced physical activity and lack of a healthy diet
("Essex County Public Health Profile Report", 2022). The risks of morbidity from chronic
illnesses like hypertension and diabetes are greatly increased in the setting of obesity. According
to NJ SHAD (2022), an estimated 32% of the population of Essex County have hypertension,
and 9.2% have diabetes, in comparison 29% of the state of New Jersey is diagnosed with
hypertension, and the most recent estimate of 8.5% with diabetes. Without medical insurance and
access to primary care, important preventative care, screenings, and opportunities for health
promotion are missed by those living in Newark and Essex County. Because of a lack of annual
screenings for chronic and potentially fatal illnesses, cancer rates, and late-stage cancer rates are
higher in this area than in most of the rest of New Jersey. According to The National Cancer
Institute's State Cancer Profiles (2024), there are around 209 diagnoses of breast cancer annually
with 33% late stage, and 103 diagnoses of colon or rectum cancer with 69% late stage. With
proper surveillance, these numbers could be greatly reduced, but this requires access.
Invest in education, due to government funding restrictions on schools and slashing
salaries for teachers there are few resources for educators to help students who require extra
attention, with a "teach to the test" attitude and aptitude tests frequently used as a benchmark for
whether or not an educator is succeeding in their position, many students who fall behind do not
get the extra time and assistance they need to learn in a way that they can understand and that
helps them grow. Community programs for tutoring and after-school assistance would be helpful
so that those children who need extra time, attention, and resources have a place to go and people
willing to help them find the best way to achieve success. Including instruction related to general
health and wellbeing, nutrition, being physically active, and teaching about primary, secondary,
and tertiary prevention will prepare the younger population to start making lifestyle choices early
that promote wellness and increase disease prevention. Armed with knowledge about nutritious
food choices, limiting sodium and sugars, consistent physical activity, and avoiding things like
alcohol and tobacco, disease prevalence of diabetes and hypertension can be reduced.
disparities due to the sociodemographic characteristics of the area. The limitations in economic
stability, access to quality education, and the number of uninsured residents lacking access to
healthcare services when compared to the state of New Jersey as a whole play a role in the
creation of these inequities. According to the US Census Bureau (2023), 77% of the population
of Newark have an educational degree of high school or higher and only 17% have a bachelor's
degree or higher. Due to lower education levels, as well as occupational and income limitations
coupled with the increased cost of living, an estimated 24% of the population in Newark lives in
poverty ("QuickFacts", 2023). Many jobs do not include coverage of benefits and with financial
constraints insurance and access can be difficult leading to 20% of the population under 65 years
of age living in Newark being uninsured ("QuickFacts", 2023).
Underprivileged populations with fewer incidences of learning opportunities and reduced
financial freedom are armed with less information and restricted from accessing resources
necessary for attaining healthy living and lifestyle choices that improve disease prevention. A
lack of information and understanding of what foods to eat, how much physical activity to
engage in, and what habits are increasingly dangerous leads to a higher incidence of obesity and
chronic illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes. Essex County has a higher incidence of
obesity (31.4%) than the state (27.9%) due to reduced physical activity and lack of a healthy diet
("Essex County Public Health Profile Report", 2022). The risks of morbidity from chronic
illnesses like hypertension and diabetes are greatly increased in the setting of obesity. According
to NJ SHAD (2022), an estimated 32% of the population of Essex County have hypertension,
and 9.2% have diabetes, in comparison 29% of the state of New Jersey is diagnosed with
hypertension, and the most recent estimate of 8.5% with diabetes. Without medical insurance and
access to primary care, important preventative care, screenings, and opportunities for health
promotion are missed by those living in Newark and Essex County. Because of a lack of annual
screenings for chronic and potentially fatal illnesses, cancer rates, and late-stage cancer rates are
higher in this area than in most of the rest of New Jersey. According to The National Cancer
Institute's State Cancer Profiles (2024), there are around 209 diagnoses of breast cancer annually
with 33% late stage, and 103 diagnoses of colon or rectum cancer with 69% late stage. With
proper surveillance, these numbers could be greatly reduced, but this requires access.
Invest in education, due to government funding restrictions on schools and slashing
salaries for teachers there are few resources for educators to help students who require extra
attention, with a "teach to the test" attitude and aptitude tests frequently used as a benchmark for
whether or not an educator is succeeding in their position, many students who fall behind do not
get the extra time and assistance they need to learn in a way that they can understand and that
helps them grow. Community programs for tutoring and after-school assistance would be helpful
so that those children who need extra time, attention, and resources have a place to go and people
willing to help them find the best way to achieve success. Including instruction related to general
health and wellbeing, nutrition, being physically active, and teaching about primary, secondary,
and tertiary prevention will prepare the younger population to start making lifestyle choices early
that promote wellness and increase disease prevention. Armed with knowledge about nutritious
food choices, limiting sodium and sugars, consistent physical activity, and avoiding things like
alcohol and tobacco, disease prevalence of diabetes and hypertension can be reduced.
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Healthcare