The association between vacant housing demolition and safety and health in Baltimore, MD

Anton Kvik; Justin Rose; Frank C Curriero; Cassandra K Crifasi; Craig Evan Pollack

doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.107292

The association between vacant housing demolition and safety and health in Baltimore, MD

Prev Med. 2022 Nov:164:107292. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.107292. Epub 2022 Oct 10.

Authors

Anton Kvik¹, Justin Rose², Frank C Curriero¹, Cassandra K Crifasi³, Craig Evan Pollack⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Epidemiology, Spatial Science for Public Health Center, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States of America.
² Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States of America. Electronic address: jrose39@jh.edu.
³ Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States of America.
⁴ Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States of America; Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, United States Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, United States of America; Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, United States of America.

PMID: 36228876
DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.107292

Abstract

We measured the association between vacant housing demolitions and changes in crime and emergency department (ED) visits in Baltimore, MD. We included 646 block groups in Baltimore, 224 of which experienced at least one demolition from 2012 to 2019. The exposure was the number of demolitions completed in a block group during the previous quarter. Crime (all, property, and violent) and ED visits (all, adults, children, and for specific causes) were examined as the change in the rate per 1000 people from the previous quarter to the current quarter and analyzed using multivariable mixed effects regression models. Demolitions were associated with a small decrease in total ED visits (difference = -0.068 per 1000 people from the previous quarter to the current quarter, 95% CI -0.119, -0.018) but no significant change in crime. For each demolition, the rate of total child ED visits was 0.452 lower compared to the previous quarter (95% CI -0.777, -0.127). Demolitions were associated with small decreases in adult injury-related ED visits in the short term.

Keywords: Crime; Demolition; Emergency department utilization; Vacant housing.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Baltimore
Child
Crime
Emergency Service, Hospital*
Housing*
Humans