Violent crimes consist of murder, rape, robbery, assault, property crime, burglary, larceny, and motor theft. These crimes often influence the safety and wellbeing of a community. The rate of violent crime in Marion County is three times that of Indiana or the U.S. and has been trending higher since at least 2012 (DR3774).
The percentage of the population living below Federal Poverty Guidline is significantly higher for Marion County than it is for Indiana and the U.S. Racial minorities and individuals with low educational attainment experience a disproportionate burden of poverty in Marion County, DR3780.
The adolescent pregnancy rate has decreased from 2012 to 2017 in Marion County. Hispanic teens have the highest rates, followed by Black non-Hispanic female teens. From 2016 to 2017, the adolescent pregnancy rate decreased for all races, but increased for Hispanic adolescents (DR3841).
Neonatal and infant mortality rates among racial/ethnic minority residents were higher than among White residents of Marion County during 2016 and 2017. Black residents carried the highest burden of disease with rates more than twice that of White residents (DR3737).
Non-Hispanic Black women in Marion County had higher rates of infant mortality, often double the rate of their non-Hispanic white counterparts. Furthermore, non-Hispanic black infants are born with low birth weight almost twice as often as their non-Hispanic White peers, with rates staying between 12%-15% over the past 10 years. Hispanic women have the lowest rates of low birth weight, never exceeding 8% during the ten-year period. Non-Hispanic white women have higher rates of low birth weight births than Hispanic women, but lower rates than non-Hispanic blacks and overall Marion County rates, DR3484).
Life expectancy and other health measures were used in this fact sheet to illustrate differences in health equity among Marion County residents. Life expectancy in Marion County has been stable since 2007 and is similar to that in Indiana and the U.S. overall, but differs within Marion County by both race and place. African American residents experienced a life expectancy of 73.7 years in 2016, compared to 78.3 years for white residents. The diabetes mortality rate among African Americans (39 per 100,000) was also higher than that of their white peers (25 per 100,000). Breast feeding initiation rates are also provided in this fact sheet, DR3780.
A racial inequity in homicide rates persisted between 2012 and 2017 such that non-Hispanic blacks experience higher homicide rates comapred to non-Hispanic whites. In 2017, the homicide rate of non-Hispanic blacks was approximately six times higher than that of non-Hispanic whites (DR3774).
The prevalence of homelessness in Marion County is estimated to be 179 per 100,000 as has been relatively steady since 2014. African Americans bear the greatest burden of homelessness in Indianapolis, followed by white residents, DR3794.
Gonorrhea rates were consistently higher among African American residents of Marion County, with Hispanic/Latinos experiencing the lowest incidence during the period 2012-2016 (DR3530).
HIV infection rates were relatively steady in Marion County during the period 2012-2016 with African Americans being more than twice as likely to have been diagnosed than their white peers, DR3506.
During 2016, black, non-Hispanic adults had a higher prevalence of diabetes than their white, non-Hispanic and Hispanic counterparts, DR3535.
This graphs illustrates life expectacy for Marion County residents from 2007-2016, both overall and by two races-white and black. White residents had consistently higher life expectancy over this ten year period, DR3568.
The maternal smoking rate among Marion County residents was highest among whites, followed by black and Hispanic residents (DR3484).
This graph shows the percentage of mothers who smoked during pregnancy by race/ethnicity from 2007-2016. During this period, white residents had the highest prevalence of maternal smoking, followed by black residents. Maternal smoking steadily declined during this period, DR3484.
This graph show the percentage of premature births (less than 37 weeks) in Marion County, by race/ethnicity, from 2007-2016 (DR3484).
This graph illustrates the percentage of mothers who initiated prenatal care in the first trimester from 2007-2016. During this period, non-Hispanic white women were more likely than their minority peers to have received prenatal care during the first trimester of their pregnancy (DR3484).
This graph show the percentage of very low birth weight births (less than 1,500 grams) in Marion County, by race/ethnicity, from 2007-2016 (DR3484).
This graph shows the percentage of Marion County mothers who breast fed upon hospital release, by race/ethnicity, from 2007-2016 (DR3484).
This graph illustrates post-neonatal infant mortality rates (age 28-364 days) for Marion County by race/ethnicity from 2007-2016 (DR3484).
This graph illustrates neonatal infant mortality rates (age less than 28 days) by race/ethnicity from 2007-2016 (DR3484).
This graph shows infant mortality rates in Marion County by race/ethnicity from 2007-2016.