 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Terese E. Maitland, PhD, MPH, Dietetics and Nutrition, Florida International University, University Park, School of Health CH224, Miami, FL 33199, 305-348-3185, maitlant@fiu.edu, Dian O. Weddle, RD, PhD, National Policy and Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging, Florida International University, P.O. Box OE200/UP, Miami, FL 33199, Orlando Gomez, PhD, MSc, Epidemiology & Public Health and Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Highland Park Building, 1801 NW 9th Ave, Miami, FL 33136, and Lora E Fleming, MD PhD, MPH, MSc, NIEHS Marine and Freshwater Biomedical Sciences Center, University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149.
Objective: To examine the relationship between race/ethnicity and health-seeking behavior during perimenopause. Design and Methods: Cross-sectional survey to collect sociodemographic, health and lifestyle data from a convenience sample of 109 [51% black and 49% white] perimenopausal-aged women with intact ovaries and uteri. Results: Both groups had comparable age (mean ± SD: 46.80 ± 4.11 years) and education, and reported similar number of pregnancies. Significantly more white participants reported taking oral contraceptives (45[59%] vs 31[41%]; p = 0.01) and blacks had more live births (3.10 ± 1.51 vs 2.27 ± 1.09; p = 0.02). Most participants had health insurance (104 [95%]) and felt physicians should be consulted for perimenopause symptoms (92 [85%]). Significantly more white participants reported symptoms (p = 0.001); sought medical care (p = 0.04) and 42 (39%) used herbal preparations to treat symptoms. HRT was prescribed for 13 (32%) of participants diagnosed perimenopausal but only 7(17%) were compliant. More black than white participants were in HMOs (35 [63%] vs 21 [40%]; p = 0.003) and saw general practitioners rather than gynecologists for care (49 [88%] vs 34 [64%]; p = 0.02). Conclusion: Racial differences relative to access-to-care (HMO vs PPO) and/or ethnic mores regarding menopause could explain differences in health-seeking behavior. Findings highlight the need for additional research to disentangle the effects of sociodemographic factors, health behaviors, and race/ethnicity on midlife health disparities. The importance of good health to productivity and quality-of-life, and the increasing numbers of perimenopausal-aged workingwomen make this research a national public health priority. Research funded by NIA-1R03AG17236-01
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Women's Health, Health Behavior
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.