A Primer for Nurses on the Historical Policy of Redlining

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Policy
• Social Determinants of Health

Background:

• Historical redlining policies have created enduring negative impacts on social determinants of health.
• These policies continue to fuel significant health disparities, particularly affecting children in historically redlined communities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an in-depth analysis of redlining as a policy.
• To examine its profound impact on social determinants of health, child health, and overall well-being.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and policy analysis.
• Examination of historical and contemporary data on redlining and health outcomes.

Main Results:

• Redlining's legacy persists, contributing to poor social determinants of health and exacerbating health disparities.
• Children in redlined areas experience significant negative health and well-being consequences.

Conclusions:

• Nurses, as the most trusted profession, are uniquely positioned to address these disparities.
• Leveraging public trust, nurses can drive change through education, advocacy, and policy reform to mitigate the effects of redlining.