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Community Health Assessment Data

  • Purpose: To build understanding of what affects public health in Southside Providence, Constitution Hill (Woonsocket), and Central Falls
  • Key Information: Self-reported health behaviors and general health of adult residents age 18 and older in Southside Providence, Constitution Hill, and Central Falls compared to adults in core cities and statewide; characteristics of neighborhood street segments
  • Collection Period: 2008-2011 for community data; 2008-2010 for core city and statewide data
  • Note: Prior to 2012, six core cities were identified as Rhode Island communities in which more than 15% of the children live below the poverty threshold according to the 2000 Census. They included: Central Falls, Newport, Pawtucket, Providence, West Warwick and Woonsocket.

Rhode Island Numbers

Demographic

Source: Community demographic data from the Neighborhood Health Check Survey

Self-Reported Health Status

  • Roughly one in three adults in Southside Providence and Central Falls, and one in four adults in Constitution Hill, reports fair or poor health. This is a significantly higher rate of poor health than that reported statewide and in Rhode Island's core cities.
  • Many adults in Southside Providence, Constitution Hill, and Central Falls report serious health conditions. Roughly one-third of adults in Southside Providence, Constitution Hill, and Central Falls has high blood pressure.
  • Obesity rates in Southside Providence (26%), Constitution Hill (32%), and Central Falls (31%) are significantly higher than those in core cities and statewide (20%). Rates of overweight (39% in Southside Providence, 44% in Constitution Hill, 37% in Central Falls) are also troubling.

Source: Community data from the Neighborhood Health Check Survey.. State and core city data from combined 2008-2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey.

Self-Reported Adult Health Behaviors

  • Only 68% of adults in Constitution Hill are non-smokers, compared to 80% of adults in Central Falls and 81% in Southside Providence. The non-smoking rate in core cities and statewide (91%) is significantly higher than rates in all three communities.
  • Eight out of ten current smokers in Southside Providence, Constitution Hill, and Central Falls have stopped smoking for at least one day in the past 12 months. These rates are significantly higher than those reported statewide and in Rhode Island's core cities.
  • Three in four Constitution Hill adults have been screened for high cholesterol; Southside Providence and Central Falls rates are similar, while rates in core cities (85%) and statewide (84%) are significantly higher.

Source: Community data from the Neighborhood Health Check Survey Script. State and core city data from combined 2008-2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Surveys.

Characteristics of Street Segments

  • Southside Providence and Central Falls need safer places for physical activity.
  • Most streets have no public recreational facilities (95% of Southside Providence street segments, 94% in Central Falls) or designated green spaces (91%, 92%).
  • Central Falls has no bike route signs; these signs are very rare (1% of street segments) in Southside Providence.

Source: Active Neighborhood Checklist
Notes: Public recreational facilities include parks, off-road walking/biking trails, sports/playing fields, basketball/tennis/volleyball courts, playgrounds, and outdoor pools. Designated play areas include green spaces, schoolyards, and parks.