 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Zipora Weinbaum, PhD, Eugene R. Takahashi, PhD, MPH, and Ellen J. Stein, MD, MPH. Maternal and Child Health Branch, California Department of Health Services, 714 P Street, Room 476, Sacramento, CA 95814, 916-657-3921, ZWeinbau@dhs.ca.gov
Background: This study was conducted to identify demographic factors and/or patterns associated with health insurance among California adult women during 1998-2001.
Methods: We analyzed data from the 1998-2001 combined California Women’s Health Surveys, which are annual random computer-assisted telephone interview surveys, coordinated by the California Department of Health Services. A total of 16,199 California women responded to the surveys. Analyses were limited to women of childbearing age (18-44).
Results: In the subset of 8,577 women of childbearing age, 18.8% were uninsured; 444 (5.2%) were pregnant at the time of the survey. In a multiple logistic regression controlling for age and marital status, the following demographic variables were associated with having any health insurance: a) Gravidity status - pregnant (OR=4.1, 95% C.I. 2.8-6.0), non-pregnant living in household (HH) with children aged < 6 (OR=1.1, 95% C.I. 0.9-1.3), non-pregnant with children ³ 6 aged < 18 in HH (OR=0.8, 95% C.I. 0.7-1.0), compared to HH without children; b) Race/ethnicity - Hispanic/Latina (OR=0.45, 95% C.I. 0.38-0.53), Asian/Other (OR=2.2, 95% C.I. 1.7-2.9), compared to White; c) Other variables - employed (OR=1.8, 95% C.I. 1.6-2.0), or U.S.-born (OR=3.5, 95% C.I. 3.0-4.1).
Conclusions: Among women of childbearing age in California, women most likely to have health insurance coverage were pregnant, U.S.-born, employed, or of Asian/Other race/ethnicity.
Public Health Implications: While efforts to provide health insurance to pregnant women may be succeeding, many of their non-pregnant counterparts, especially Hispanic/Latina, lack health insurance. Health insurance coverage is needed for all women of childbearing age.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Health Insurance, Women
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.