LA County Department of Public Health - SPA 6

SPA 6 Statistics - Executive Summary Back to Table of Contents

The Health of the Residents in the South Service Planning Area is the first health assessment report for the South Service Planning Area (SPA 6) of Los Angeles County, California. The purpose of the report is to provide a snapshot of the health status in the communities of SPA 6. The report presents population-based data that describe health outcomes as well as demographic characteristics of the population. The report focuses on a select group of health indicators addressing demographic characteristics of the population, maternal and infant health, communicable diseases, hospitalizations, mortality, alcohol and drug problems, and mental health.

The data included in the report were collected from various County, State, and community agencies. The data cover different years, as the data were available. At all times, the most recent year's data were used for this report. Data included in the report were summarized and presented at the community level covering 16 cities and communities in SPA 6. Communities were defined by zip codes, and those with small populations were joined together.

Information included in this report assists program directors in targeting their programs to the appropriate population sub-groups. It is also hoped that this information enables public and private organizations to define health-related priorities and formulate new or revised policies and programs. Highlights of the data included in the report are presented below.

Population

According to 2000 population estimates, 1,058,022 persons resided in SPA 6, representing approximately 11% of the Los Angeles County's estimated population.
Overall, Latinos represented about 59% of the population in SPA 6. African Americans were the second largest racial/ethnic group, constituting slightly over 36% of the population. The area's population also included 3% Whites, 2% Asians/Pacific Islanders, and less than 1% American Indians and persons from other racial/ethnic groups.
The most populous city or community in SPA 6 was the City of Compton, which had 153,771 residents during 2000. The next most populous communities were Exposition Park with 124,432, South Central Los Angeles with 107,504, and South Vermont with 106,728 residents during 2000.
The cities and communities with the largest percentage of Latino residents were Florence and South Central Los Angeles, each with 82%; Lynwood with 76%; and Exposition Park with about 70% of the residents reported as Latinos. The Crenshaw District had the highest concentration of African American population (73%). It was followed by Hyde Park with about 72%, Leimert Park with 55%, and South Vermont with 50% of the residents reported as African Americans.
The highest percentage of White population resided in the City of Paramount, which had 18% of its population belonging to this racial/ethnic group. The next highest communities were Exposition Park and Lynwood, each with around 5% of the residents reported as Whites.
The Crenshaw District had the highest concentration of Asians/Pacific Islanders with about 7% of the population. It was followed by the City of Paramount with 6%, and Adams with 5% of the residents reported as Asians/Pacific Islanders.
The highest percentage of the population aged 0 to 17 years resided in Florence, Willowbrook, and South Central Los Angeles, each with about 40% of the population from this age group. Communities with the next highest percentages of this age group were Humphry with 39%; Watts, Compton, and Lynwood, each with 38% of the population 0 to 17 years old.
Adults 18 to 64 years of age were present in the highest percentage in the Crenshaw District constituting 61% of the population. This community was followed by Jefferson Park, Exposition Park, and Hyde Park, each with about 60% of the population 18 to 64 years of age.
The Crenshaw District had the highest percentage of older adults aged 65 and over, with 16% of the population belonging to this age group. It was followed by Hyde Park with 13% of the population in this age group. The communities with the next highest percentages of elderly adults were Adams and Leimert Park, each with 12%; and Jefferson Park with 11% of the population 65 years and over.

Persons Living Below the Federal Poverty Level

During 1999, there were an estimated 390,511 persons living below the federal poverty level (FPL) in SPA 6, 37% of the total SPA population. The racial/ethnic composition of the poverty population was 67% Latino, 29% African American, 2% White, 2% Asian/Pacific Islander, and less than 1% American Indian and persons from other racial/ethnic groups.
Of the 390,511 SPA 6 residents living below the federal poverty level, 44% were children and youth 0 to 17 years of age, 51% were 18 to 64 years old, and 5% were seniors 65 years and over.
The highest numbers of persons living under the federal poverty level were residents of the community of Exposition Park (53,571), South Central Los Angeles (51,001), the City of Compton (47,142), and South Vermont (40,414).
The community of South Central Los Angeles had the highest number of children and youth 0 to 17 years old living below the FPL, with 22,715 during 1999. It was followed by the City of Compton with 22,443, Exposition Park with 20,375, and South Vermont with 18,356 children and youth living below the FPL.
The Cities of Compton, Lynwood, and Paramount had the highest percentages of the poverty population in the age group of 0 to 17 years, each with about 48%. This age group constituted 47% of the poverty population in Florence and Willowbrook, and 45% in South Central Los Angeles.
The highest numbers of seniors 65 years old and over living below the federal poverty level were residents of Exposition Park (2,248), South Central Los Angeles (2,185), Compton (2,074), South Vermont (1,619), and Hyde Park (1,606).
The Crenshaw District had the highest percentage of the poverty population as older adults aged 65 years and over, with 11% of its poverty population in this age group. It was followed by the communities of Adams, Leimert Park, and Hyde Park, each with 9% of its indigent population aged 65 years and over.
Cities and communities with the highest percentages of their total population living below the FPL were Watts with 49%; South Central Los Angeles and Humphry, each with 45%; Willowbrook with 44%; Exposition Park with 43%; West Compton/Los Angeles County with 42%; and South Vermont with 41% of the population living below the federal poverty level.

Persons Receiving Public Assistance

As of February 2001, there were 338,086 persons receiving public assistance in SPA 6, 32% of the population. Thirty-five percent of persons receiving public assistance in the SPA were in the CalWORKs One Parent program and approximately 6% were in the CalWORKs Two Parent program. About 6% were on General Relief, while 44% were on Medi-Cal only. Around 5% obtained Food Stamps only, and about 5% received In-Home Support Services.
Fifty-eight percent of public assistance recipients were children and youth 0 to 17 years of age, 36% were 18 to 59 years of age, and 6% were 60 years old and over. Forty-four percent of children and youth on public assistance were receiving assistance through CalWORKs One Parent and 44% were on Medi-Cal. Slightly over 45% of persons 18 to 59 years of age received Medi-Cal only, while 25% received assistance through the CalWORKs One Parent program. For residents 60 years and over, 44% were receiving Medi-Cal; and 42% received In-Home Support Services.
Fifty-five percent of public assistance recipients were English speaking, while Spanish was the primary language for 45%. Less than 1% of public assistance recipients spoke other primary languages.

The Homeless Population

It was estimated that during 2001 there were 15,879 homeless persons in SPA 6. Of these, 80% were living individually and 20% were living with family members. An estimated 46% of the homeless population were substance abusers, 5% were mentally ill, 13% were dually-diagnosed persons with alcohol/drug problems as well as mental illness, 3% were persons infected with HIV/AIDS, and 14% were victims of domestic violence.
Substance abusers constituted 50% of homeless persons living individually and 32% of those living with families. In addition, dually diagnosed persons with alcohol/drug problems as well as mental illness made up 16% of homeless persons living individually and 1% of those living with family members. Nine percent of homeless persons living individually were victims of domestic violence, while 34% of those living with families were victims of domestic violence.

Maternal and Infant Health

During 1999, there were 22,889 total live births in SPA 6. The racial/ethnic composition of live births was approximately 73% Latino, 24% African American, 2%White, 1% Asian/Pacific Islander, and 0.4% American Indian and other racial/ethnic groups.
There were 1,790 low birth-weight babies (8% of total live births), 1,512 births to adolescents less than 18 years old (7% of total live births), and 4,527 mothers receiving prenatal care after the first trimester or not receiving prenatal care at all (20% of all delivering mothers). Babies may be in more than one category.
African Americans had the highest percentage of low birth-weight babies (14%). They were followed by American Indians and those from other racial/ethnic groups with 12%, Asians/Pacific Islanders with 8%, and Whites and Latinas, each group with 7% low birth-weight babies.
Latinas had the highest proportion of births to adolescents (7%). They were followed by African Americans with 6%, American Indians and mothers from other racial/ethnic groups with 5%, Whites with 3% and Asians/Pacific Islanders with 2% of live births born to adolescent mothers.
Births to mothers receiving late or no prenatal care were highest among American Indians and mothers from other racial/ethnic groups with 24%; followed by African Americans, Latinas, and Asians/Pacific Islanders, each group with about 20%; and Whites with 16% of mothers receiving late or no prenatal care.
Rates of low birth-weight babies per 1,000 live births were highest in the community of Jefferson Park with a rate of 97; Adams and the Crenshaw District, each with a rate of 96; and Leimert Park with a rate of 95 low birth-weight babies per 1,000 live births during 1999.
Rates of births to adolescents per 1,000 live births were highest in Willowbrook with a rate of 80; followed by Watts with a rate of 77; Compton with a rate of 71; Florence and West Compton/Los Angeles County, each with a rate of 70 births to adolescent mothers per 1,000 live births.
Rate of mothers receiving late or no prenatal care per 1,000 delivering mothers was highest in Florence with a rate of 239. This community was followed by South Central Los Angeles, Compton, and West Compton/Los Angeles County, with rates of 223, 218, and 209 mothers receiving late or no prenatal care per 1,000 delivering mothers.
There were 152 infant deaths (less than one year old) in SPA 6 during 1999. Of these, 24 (16%) were caused by perinatal complications, 23 (15%) were caused by short gestation, 12 (8%) were caused by a respiratory condition, and 9 (6%) were caused by congenital malformation of the heart. The remaining 84 deaths (55%) were caused by other causes. The infant mortality rate in SPA 6 during 1999 was 6.6 per 1,000 live births, while the infant mortality rate in Los Angeles County was 5 per 1,000 live births.

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

As of March 31, 2002, the cumulative number of persons diagnosed with AIDS in SPA 6 was 4,099, a rate of 387 cases per 100,000 population. This cumulative number includes all persons who were diagnosed with AIDS since 1981 when Los Angeles County started counting AIDS cases, whether these persons have died of AIDS or are still living with AIDS.
Of the total AIDS cases in SPA 6, 3,457 (84%) were males and 642 (16%) were females. Sixty-seven percent of SPA 6 residents diagnosed with AIDS were African American and 27% were Latino. The racial/ethnic group of the remaining AIDS cases is unknown because of suppressing the numbers less than 5.
Male-to-male sexual contact (MSM) was the likely mode of transmission for 63% of the men diagnosed with AIDS, while injection drug use (IDU) was the likely mode of transmission for 10% of males diagnosed with AIDS. The racial/ethnic distribution of men acquiring AIDS through male-to-male sexual contact was 67% African American, 25% Latino, 7% White, slightly less than 1% from other racial/ethnic groups, and a few with unknown race/ethnicity.
The number of women diagnosed with AIDS who acquired the disease through a heterosexual contact was 285. Of these, 188 were African Americans and 83 were Latinas constituting 29% and 13% of all women diagnosed with AIDS in SPA 6, respectively.
The Crenshaw District had the highest rate of cumulative AIDS cases per 100,000 population, with a rate of 843. It was followed by the communities of Adams, Leimert Park, and Hyde Park, with rates of 778, 686, and 618, respectively.
The total number of persons living with AIDS in the entire SPA 6 was 1,606, corresponding to a rate of 152 per 100,000 population. The Crenshaw District had the highest rate of persons living with AIDS, with a rate of 324 per 100,000 population. It was followed by Adams with a rate of 313, and Leimert Park with a rate of 223 persons living with AIDS per 100,000 population.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

During 2000, there were 9,208 SPA 6 residents diagnosed with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), representing a case rate of 870 per 100,000 population. Of these 9,208 cases, 6,243 (68%) were females and 2,965 (32%) were males.
Seventy-three percent of persons diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease suffered from Chlamydia, 26% had Gonorrhea, and 1% had Syphilis. In addition, Chlamydia cases accounted for 80% of sexually transmitted diseases among women and 60% of STD cases among men.
During 2000, African Americans represented 42% of Chlamydia cases, 67% of Gonorrhea cases, and 37% of Syphilis cases in SPA 6. Latinos constituted 30% of Chlamydia cases, 9% of Gonorrhea cases, and 56% of Syphilis cases.
The community of Watts had the highest rate of STDs per 100,000 population, with a rate of 1,432. This community was followed by Leimert Park, Humphry, Crenshaw District, and West Compton/Los Angeles County, with rates of 1,228, 1,224, 1,144, and 1,087 STD cases per 100,000 population, respectively.
Chlamydia was the most frequently diagnosed STD in the communities of SPA 6, with 6,308 cases diagnosed during 2000. This represented a case rate of 596 per 100,000 population in SPA 6. The Chlamydia rate in Los Angeles County was 315 cases per 100,000 population. Rates of Chlamydia per 100,000 population were highest in Watts, Humphry, and Leimert Park with rates of 1,022, 877, and 845 per 100,000 population, respectively.
There were 2,228 cases of Gonorrhea diagnosed in SPA 6 during 2000, representing a case rate of 211 per 100,000 population. The Gonorrhea rate in Los Angeles County was 74 cases per 100,000 population. The rate of Gonorrhea per 100,000 population was highest in Watts with a rate of 407. This community was followed by Willowbrook, Leimert Park, and the Crenshaw District, with rates of 384, 383, and 370 Gonorrhea cases per 100,000 population, respectively.
There were 76 cases of Syphilis infections diagnosed in SPA 6 during 2000, representing a case rate of 7 per 100,000 population. The Syphilis rate in Los Angeles County was 3.8 cases per 100,000 population.

Tuberculosis (TB)

During 2000, there were 156 Tuberculosis (TB) cases in SPA 6. Males represented 64% of TB cases and females constituted 36% of cases. Ten percent of TB cases in SPA 6 were less than 15 years of age, 43% were 15 to 44 years old, 35% were 45 to 64 years of age, and 12% were 65 years and over.
The racial/ethnic distribution of TB cases was 58% Latino, 36% African American, 4% Asian/Pacific Islander, and 2% White. Fifty-four percent of TB cases diagnosed among residents of SPA 6 occurred among persons who were foreign-born. Thirty-three percent were born in Mexico and 6% were born in each of El Salvador and Guatemala. The remaining 9% were born in other countries. The case rate for TB disease in SPA 6 during 2000 was 14.7 cases per 100,000 population. TB rate in Los Angeles County was 10.8 per 100,000 population.

Burden of Disease and Injury

Combining premature mortality and morbidity into a single measure of disease burden known as Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), indicated that for SPA 6 residents, homicide/violence was the leading cause of disease burden (12,099 years lost to premature death and disability), followed by heart disease (8,536 years), diabetes mellitus (7,286 years), alcohol dependence (6,750 years), stroke (5,213 years), depression (4,016 years), motor vehicle crashes (3,675 years), trachea/bronchus/lung cancer (3,618 years), emphysema (3,240 years), and osteoarthritis (3,236 years).
Rates of DALYs ranged from 12.7 to 3.4 per 1,000 population for the top ten causes of DALYs in SPA 6. The rate for homicide/violence was much higher than the rates for the next leading causes of DALYs.
Homicide/violence and alcohol dependence were the two leading causes of premature death and disability for men (years of healthy life lost) with 8,356 and 4,142 years, respectively. Meanwhile, diabetes and coronary disease were the two leading causes of DALYs among women with, with 3,796 and 3,676 years, respectively. Coronary heart disease, drug overdose/other intoxication, and diabetes mellitus were the third, fourth, and fifth leading causes of DALYs for men, with 3,996, 3,423, and 2,779 years, respectively. In the meantime, alcohol dependence, stroke, and asthma were the third, fourth, and fifth leading causes of DALYs for women with 3,280, 2,651, and 2,298 years, respectively.

Hospitalization

During 1999, the number of SPA 6 residents who were hospitalized was 141,562. The top five illness-related causes of hospitalization for area residents were pneumonia with 3,704 hospitalizations, congestive heart failure with 3,337, chronic lung disease with 1,840, coronary heart disease with 1,417, and urinary tract infection with 1,295 hospitalizations during 1999.
The rate of illness-related hospitalizations by 100,000 population during 1999 in SPA 6 was highest in the community of Adams with a rate of 17,522. It was followed by Leimert Park with a rate of 16,610, and Hyde Park with a rate of 15,861 hospital discharges per 100,000 population.
Emergency admissions constituted high proportions of hospital discharges with 77% for the overall SPA 6 population, 81% among Latinos, 78% among Asians/Pacific Islanders, 77% among African Americans as well as American Indians and persons from other racial/ethnic groups, and 73% among Whites.
The proportion of emergency admissions was highest among children less than fifteen years of age (87%). This group was followed by young adults 15 to 24 years old (79%), residents 25 to 64 years of age (77%), and seniors 65 years and over (75%).
There were 5,436 asthma-related hospital discharges in SPA 6 during 1999. Of these, 35% were 0 to 14 years of age, 8% were 15 to 24 years old, 41% were 25 to 64 years of age, and 16% were 65 years and over.
For all hospitalizations including deliveries in SPA 6 during 1999, private insurance paid hospital costs for 25% of Whites, 21% of African Americans, 20% of Latinos, 27% of Asians/Pacific Islanders, and 36% of American Indians and persons from other racial/ethnic groups. In the meantime, Medi-Cal paid 24% of hospital care for Whites, 32% of care for African Americans, 60% of care for Latinos, 25% of care for Asians/Pacific Islanders, and 31% of care for American Indians and persons from other racial/ethnic groups. Medicare was the payor for 44% of hospital costs for Whites, 36% of costs for African Americans, 8% of costs for Latinos, 40% of costs for Asians/Pacific Islanders, and 25% of costs for American Indians and persons from other racial/ethnic groups.

Mortality

During 1999, there were 6,799 deaths among residents of SPA 6. Heart disease and cancers were the leading causes of death, with 2,207 deaths (33%) and 1,445 deaths (21%), respectively. Other leading causes of death among SPA 6 residents during 1999 were cerebrovascular disease with 509 deaths (8%), chronic lower respiratory disease (CLD) with 306 deaths (5%), homicide with 295 deaths (4.3%), diabetes mellitus with 270 deaths (4%), and unintentional injuries with 227 deaths (3.3%).
Death rates per 100,000 population were 207 for heart disease and 136 for cancers. These rates were followed by a rate of 48 deaths for cerebrovascular disease, a rate of 29 for chronic lower respiratory disease, a rate of 28 for homicide, and a rate of 21 per 100,000 population for unintentional injuries.
Death was likely to occur at an earlier age among Latinos than among all other racial/ethnic groups. The proportion of deaths among persons 20 to 44 years of age was 22% among Latinos, 9% among African Americans, 5% among Whites, and 4% among American Indians and persons from other racial/ethnic groups. In the meantime, 38% of deaths among Latinos, 78% among Whites, 75% among American Indians and persons from other racial/ethnic groups, and 66% among African Americans were 65 years and over.
During 1999, there were 227 unintentional injury deaths in SPA 6, 49 suicides, and 295 homicides. Children and youth 0 to 17 years of age represented 8% of unintentional injury deaths, 4% of suicides, and 10% of homicides. Seniors 65 years and over constituted 22% of unintentional injury deaths, 21% of suicides, and 8% of homicides in SPA 6 during 1999.
The rate of years of potential life lost (YPLL) before age 65 per 100,000 population less than 65 years of age was significantly higher for homicides than for other causes of death, with a rate of 1,106. This rate was followed by a rate of 744 per 100,000 population less than 65 years of age for cancers, a rate of 675 for heart disease, and a rate of 575 for unintentional injuries per 100,000 population less than 65 years of age.

Alcohol- and Drug-Related Health Problems

During 1999, there were 3,652 alcohol-related hospital discharges among residents of SPA 6. The number of African American residents whose hospitalization was related to alcohol was 1,825, constituting 50% of all alcohol-related hospital discharges. They were followed by Latinos with 1,332 alcohol-related hospital discharges, representing 36% of all alcohol-related hospital discharges.
The majority of residents hospitalized in relation to alcohol use were 25 to 64 years of age (80%). Persons in this age group constituted 84% of Latino residents and 80% of White residents hospitalized because of alcohol. However, 32% of alcohol-related hospital discharges among Asians/Pacific Islanders, 21% among African Americans as well as among persons from other racial/ethnic groups, 16% among Whites, and 10% among Latinos were 65 years and over.
During 1999, there were 3,817 drug-related hospital discharges among residents of SPA 6. Of these, 1,785 (24%) were hospitalized because of the use of cocaine, 702 (9%) were hospitalized because of opiate or heroin, 238 (3%) were hospitalized because of cannabis, 57 (1%) were hospitalized because of amphetamine, 55 (1%) were hospitalized because of barbiturate, and 980 residents (62%) were hospitalized because of using other drugs.
The number of African American residents hospitalized in relation to drug use was 2,587, constituting 68% of all drug-related hospital discharges. They were followed by Latinos with 688 drug-related hospital discharges representing 18%, and Whites with 384 hospital discharges constituting 10% of all drug-related hospital discharges.
Approximately 55% of persons hospitalized because of drug use were 25 to 44 years of age. Persons in this age group constituted 63% of drug-related hospital discharges among Asians/Pacific Islanders, 62% among persons from other racial/ethnic groups, 56% among Whites, 55% among Latinos, and 54% among African Americans hospitalized because of drug use. In the meantime, persons less than 25 years of age represented 23% of drug-related hospital discharges among Latinos, 11% among Asians/Pacific Islanders, 7% among African Americans, and 6% among Whites and persons from other racial/ethnic groups who were hospitalized because of drug use.
During fiscal year 2000-2001, the number of SPA 6 residents receiving alcohol and drug services was 5,548. Persons reporting cocaine/crack as their primary drug problem represented the largest group of SPA 6 residents attending alcohol and drug programs, 2,167 persons (39%). The second highest number of persons receiving alcohol and drug services reported alcohol as their primary problem, 1,379 persons (24%). They were followed by heroin users, 1,020 persons (18%); marijuana/hashish users, 751 (13%); and methamphetamine users, 160 (3%) of SPA 6 residents receiving alcohol and drug services during fiscal year 2000-2001. The remaining 171 persons (3%) reported using other drugs.
Sixty-four percent of SPA 6 residents receiving alcohol and drug services obtained non-residential treatment services, 7% attended non-residential detoxification programs which provide methadone maintenance services, 3% were admitted to residential detoxification programs, and 26% were admitted to short-term or long-term residential treatment programs.
As of January 1, 2000, there were 689 off-sale liquor licenses (liquor stores) and 222 on-sale liquor licenses (restaurants and bars) in SPA 6. The rate of off-sale liquor licenses per 100,000 population in the entire SPA was 65, while the rate of on-sale liquor licenses was 21 per 100,000 population.
The highest number of off-sale liquor licenses existed in Compton (82), followed by South Central Los Angeles (75), Exposition Park (70), Florence (67), and Hyde Park (66) off-sale liquor licenses. Rates of off-sale liquor licenses per 100,000 population were highest in the community of Humphry with a rate of 109, Paramount with a rate of 98, West Compton/Los Angeles County with a rate of 93, Florence with a rate of 92, and Adams with a rate of 89 off-sale liquor licenses per 100,000 population.
Exposition Park had the highest number of on-sale liquor licenses with 104, Compton had 101, Hyde Park had 94, South Central Los Angeles had 90, and Florence had 87 on-sale liquor licenses. Rates of on-sale liquor licenses show high concentration in the City of Paramount (162 per 100,000 population). The city was followed by the community of Humphry with a rate of 131; Florence and Hyde Park, each with a rate of 119; Adams with a rate of 113; and West Compton/Los Angeles County with a rate of 112 on-sale liquor licenses per 100,000 population.

Mental Health

During the fiscal year 2000-2001, there were 39,617 SPA 6 residents receiving mental health services. The highest number of mental health patients were diagnosed with personality disorders, 14,329 patients representing 36% of all patients receiving mental health services. The second highest number were persons diagnosed with major depression, 8,745 patients constituting 22% of mental health services recipients. These patients were followed by persons diagnosed with bipolar psychosis, 8,531 or 21%; and those diagnosed with schizophrenia, 7,577 patients or 17% of persons receiving mental health services. The remaining 1,435 patients (4%) received other diagnoses.
The majority of mental health patients, 34,834 representing 88% of persons receiving mental health services, obtained non-24 hour services. About 10% (4,135 patients) were admitted to 24-hour acute hospitals, and 648 patients (2%) received 24-hour non-hospital services.