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

Abstract #63979

Whitney Randolph, PhD, MPH¹, Richard P. Moser, PhD², and K. Viswanath, PhD². (1) Cancer Prevention Fellow, Health Communication and Informatics Research Branch, National Cancer Institute, 6130 Executive Blvd., Room 4095A, MSC 7365, Rockville, MD 20852-7365, 301 402 9639, randolwh@mail.nih.gov, (2) Behavioral Research Program, National Cancer Institute, 6130 Executive Blvd., MSC 7326, Room 4097, Rockville, MD 20852

Objectives: This presentation explores how the "digital divide" in Internet and computer access, sources of health information for many, has narrowed in some populations while persisting among others. Methods: Based on secondary analyses of the Buckeye State Poll, gathered monthly from November 1996 to November 2001, we report trends in home computer ownership and home Internet access as well as determinants of access such as age, education, income and county size. Results: Internet access increased from less than 20% in 1996 to greater than 50% in 2001, and home computer ownership went from around 40% to greater than 60%. Logistic regression analyses suggest that access and ownership were dependent on age, education, income and county size. For example, people ages 60-99 had an odds ratio of 0.40 (95% CI 0.37-0.44) of having internet access compared to those ages 18-33; those with a college degree were almost 4 times more likely to have it compared to those without a high school diploma (OR 3.75, 95% CI 3.29-4.27); and those with a yearly income of $65,000 or greater were approximately 5 times as likely to have access compared to those with less than $25,000 dollars of income (OR 5.32 , 95% CI 4.90-5.76). Conclusions: Despite large gains in home computer ownership and Internet access, certain segments of the population are still lagging. Those without access tend to be poorer, less educated and older, groups already at higher risk of poor health outcomes. These data are a unique source for examining determinants of digital divide with implications for health interventions.

Learning Objectives:

After attending the session or viewing the poster, the participant will be able to:
• Define the concept of the "digital divide".
• Identify factors commonly contributing to the divide.
• Discuss possible implications of the lack of Internet access on health.

Keywords: Communication Technology, 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.