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Karyn K Heavner, MSPH, Department of Epidemiology, University at Albany, School of Public Health, 1 University Place, Rensselaer, NY 12144, (518)477-9420, KarynKH@aol.com, Blanca, M Ramos, PhD, School of Social Welfare, University at Albany, Richardson 109, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222, Robin Lee, MPH, DHS/HIB, CDC/ATSDR, 1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop E-31, Atlanta, GA 30333, and Louise-Anne McNutt, PhD, Department of Epidemiology, University at Albany, School of Public Health, 1 University Place, Rensselaer, NY 12144.
Background Little is known about PTSD among Latinas, including Puerto Rican women, residing in the United States (US) mainland.
Objective To explore associations between acculturation and PTSD symptoms among Latinas.
Methods Self-administered (English or Spanish) questionnaires were distributed in facilities serving Latinas in three Upstate New York counties. Responses to a five-item PTSD scale assessing symptoms in the past month (0=never to 3=very often) differentiated women with high levels (5-15) from those with few/no (0-4) PTSD symptoms. Estimated prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were obtained from Poisson regression to assess associations between acculturation and PTSD symptoms.
Results Preliminary results indicate that a substantial proportion (31.3%) of participants had high levels of PTSD symptoms (n=150). This was true among Puerto Rican women (42.1%) and US-born Latinas (22.6%). Puerto Ricans were more likely than non-Puerto Ricans to have high levels of PTSD symptoms (PR=3.8, CI: 1.8, 8.1).
There was an inverse relationship between acculturation and PTSD symptoms. Latinas born outside the continental US were more likely to have high levels of PTSD symptoms (PR=2.1, CI: 1.0, 4.2). Women who preferred Spanish to English (PR=2.9, CI: 1.2, 7.0) or spoke mostly Spanish (PR=2.4, CI: 1.0, 7.1) were more likely to have high levels of PTSD symptoms.
Discussion A high frequency of PTSD symptoms was found among Puerto Rican women and other US-born Latinas. Research is needed to explain the high frequency of PTSD symptoms among Latinas for whom Spanish is the preferred language.
Learning Objectives: After attending this session participants will be able to
Keywords: Hispanic, Mental 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.