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

Abstract #67268

Kushang V. Patel, MPH¹, Karl Eschbach, PhD², Laura L. Rudkin, PhD¹, M.Kristen Peek, PhD³, and Kyriakos S. Markides, PhD⁴. (1) Dept. of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555-1153, 409/772-8658, kvpatel@utmb.edu, (2) Center for Immigration Research, University of Houston, 468 PGH 3012, Houston, TX 77204-3012, (3) Division of Sociomedical Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-1153, (4) Dept. of Preventive Medicine and Community Health/ Division of Sociomedical Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, 700 Harborside Dr, Ewing Hall 1.128, Galveston, TX 77555-1153

Background: Neighborhoods have emerged as an important context for health and well being. However, relatively few studies have investigated neighborhood characteristics and health in elderly or ethnic minority populations. The purpose of this study was to determine whether neighborhood economic, social, and geographic characteristics are associated with self-rated health in older Mexican Americans. Methods: Epidemiologic data on 3,050 older Mexican Americans residing in the southwestern United States during 1993-94 were merged with 1990 US Census data. All subjects were matched to one of 210 census tracts (neighborhoods). Multilevel ordinal logit models were used to examine relationships between self-rated health and individual- and neighborhood-level variables. Results: After adjusting for individual characteristics, older Mexican Americans were more likely to rate their health poorer if they lived in neighborhoods that were economically disadvantaged, less populated by other Hispanics, or located within 50 miles of the US-Mexico border. In addition, residence in a border community moderated the relationship between self-rated health and neighborhood economic disadvantage. The effect of neighborhood economic disadvantage on poorer self-rated health was two to three times stronger for subjects living near the border region than subjects living further away from the border. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the importance of considering several dimensions of neighborhood context, especially for Mexican Americans. Residence in a border community and neighborhood economic disadvantage were important predictors of poorer self-rated health status. In addition, older Mexican Americans experience a health benefit from living in neighborhoods populated with other Hispanics.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this presentation participants will be able to:
• discuss linkages between neighborhood characteristics and health for older Hispanics;
• assess associations between neighborhood environment and health in older Mexican Americans; and
• explain three unique aspects of neighborhood environments for older Mexican American health.

Keywords: Aging, Minority Health

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.