Abstract
Violence remains a significant public health issue in the United States. To determine if urban vacant properties were associated with an increased risk of assaultive violence and if this association was modified by important neighborhood institutions (e.g., schools, parks/playgrounds, police stations, and alcohol outlets). Longitudinal ecologic study of all 1816 block groups in Philadelphia. Aggravated assault and vacant property data were compiled yearly from 2002 to 2006 and linked to block groups. A mixed effects negative binomial regression model examined the association of vacant properties and assaults between and within block groups. Among all block groups, 84% experienced at least one vacant property, 89% at least one aggravated assault, and 64% at least one gun assault. Between block groups, the risk of aggravated assault increased 18% for every category shift of vacant properties (IRR 1.18, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.25, P < 0.001). Parks/playgrounds and alcohol outlets potentially modified the association between vacant properties and aggravated assaults but only at low levels of vacancy. Increasing levels of vacancy were associated with increased risk of assaultive violence in urban block groups.
Highlights
Despite declining rates since the 1990s [1], violence remains a significant public health issue in the United States
The study sample consisted of all 1816 block groups in Philadelphia County
In order to address whether the association between vacant properties and aggravated assault was modified by institutional factors, we studied the impact of schools, parks/playgrounds, police/fire stations, houses of worship, and alcohol outlets
Summary
Despite declining rates since the 1990s [1], violence remains a significant public health issue in the United States. Many major cities, such as Philadelphia, have seen consistently increasing rates of aggravated assault despite national trends to the contrary [2]. Various factors that may influence violence have been well researched [3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10], in particular behavioral risk factors While some of these factors have been tied to intervention strategies, the relationship of physical structures to rates of violence has been less well proven as a potential modifiable target for intervention. Neighborhood physical disorder remains a consistent concern for community leaders and residents [11, 12] and may be associated with aggravated assault [13]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
