The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #59819

Luisa Franzini, PhD¹, Margaret Caughy, PhD¹, Maria Eugenia Fernandez-Esquer, PhD², Melissa Montoya¹, Norma Perez, MD¹, John Ribble, MD¹, Jan Risser, PhD³, and William Spears, PhD⁴. (1) University of Texas School of Public Health, 1200 Herman Pressler, Houston, TX 77030, 713 500 9487, lfranzini@sph.uth.tmc.edu, (2) Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, UT-Houston School of Public Health, 7000 Fannin, Suite 2518, Houston, TX 77030, (3) Epidemiology, University of Texas School of Public Health, 1200 Herman Pressler, RAS E 703, Houston, TX 77030, (4) San Antonio Regional Campus, University of Texas School of Public Health, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, Mail Code 7976, San Antonio, TX 78284

Background: In recent years, the contribution of socioeconomic and cultural determinants of health has been increasingly recognized. In this study, we investigate the differences in socioeconomic and cultural factors between Hispanics and African Americans and whites living in Texas and how these variations affect health in the three ethnic groups. Methods: Face to face interviews were conducted in 2001-2002 with 1857 Hispanics, 919 African Americans, and 409 whites in Texas. Information on self-perceived health, income, education in the US and Mexico, social support, religiosity, spirituality, victimization, racism, trust, and perceived personal opportunity was collected. ANOVA compared means and pairwise means between Hispanics and African Americans and whites. Ordered logit multivariate regression was used to estimate the influence of ethnicity and socioeconomic indicators on self-perceived health. Results: The three ethnic groups significantly differed in self-perceived health, income, education, social support, religiosity, spirituality, victimization, racism, trust, and perceived personal opportunity. Self perceived health was worse in Hispanics than in whites but was similar to that in African Americans after adjusting for age and sex. Those health disparities could be explained by socioeconomic factors. Better self-perceived health was associated with higher income, more education, better personal opportunity, and more trust. Racism and spirituality were associated with worse health. Conclusions: Income, education, spirituality, trust, racism, and personal opportunity mediated the disparities in health between Hispanics and African Americans and whites.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this sesssion, the participant will be able to:
• describe disparities between Hispanics and African Americans and whites in health and socioeconomic and cultural indictors
• identify socioeconomic and cultural indictors that mediate health disparities between Hispanics and African Americans and whites
• discuss the contribution of socioeconomic and cultural factors in explaining health disparities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.