Neighborhood Inequality and Emergency Department Use in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Graduates

Abstract

Neonatal intensive care unit graduates residing in high-risk neighborhoods were at increased risk of emergency department use and had higher rates of social/environmental risk factors. Distances to primary care provider and emergency department did not contribute to emergency department use. Knowledge of neighborhood risk is important for preventative service reform.

Keywords: neighborhood risk; neonatology; public health; risk factors; social determinants of health; socioeconomic factors.