This is especially true for women and children living in poor areas

Oct 20, 2011 08:25 GMT  ·  By
Changing the neighborhood leads to notable, long-term health improvements for women and children
   Changing the neighborhood leads to notable, long-term health improvements for women and children

Changing the neighborhood leads to notable, long-term health improvements for women and children from poor areas, a new study reveals. Their quality of life increases substantially, with the change taking almost-immediate effect.

Details of the new investigation were published in the latest issue of the esteemed New England Journal of Medicine (NEMJ). The work was carried out by experts at the University of Chicago.

“These findings provide strong evidence that the environments in low-income neighborhoods can contribute to poor health,” explains the UC McCormick Foundation Professor of Social Service Administration, Law and Public Policy, Jens Ludwig.

The study was carried out between 2008 and 2010, and included data on more than 4,498 women and children who lived in public housing in distressed census tracts, the US National Science Foundation (NSF) reports.