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American Public Health Association
133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition
December 10-14, 2005
Philadelphia, PA
APHA 2005
 
3042.0: Monday, December 12, 2005 - 9:30 AM

Abstract #115386

Are diverse populations differentially affected by hormone replacement therapy health warnings?

Elaine G. Zahnd, PhD1, Susan A. Holtby, MPH2, Christy McCain, MPH1, and Y. Jenny Chia, PhD3. (1) Public Health Institute, 555 12th Street, 10th Floor, Oakland, CA 94607, 925/283-6432, ezahnd@phi.org, (2) Senior Research Scientist, Public Health Institute, 210 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, (3) Center for Health Policy Research, UCLA, 10911 Weyburn Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024

Background: In May 2002, researchers abruptly and prematurely ended the nation's largest clinical trial on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), noting that long-term use significantly increased women's risk of breast cancer, stroke and heart attack. Little research has been done to determine if women's knowledge of research-based warning of HRT risk disproportionately impacts women of different socio-economic and racial/ethnic backgrounds. Methods: The 2001 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS 2001) is a telephone survey of 55,428 households; CHIS 2003 includes 42,044 households. The samples are designed to provide statewide estimates for California's overall population. Soon-to-be released CHIS 2003 data will be used to see if women's doctors' advice and/or women's knowledge of health warnings influenced their decisions to quit and whether such warnings have equal resonance among different groups of women. Results: Based on 2001 data, considerable differences were seen between HRT prevalence rates among women of varying backgrounds; Latinas (28.2%), African Americans (29.4%) and Asians and Pacific Islanders (32.3%) were all significantly less likely to use HRT compared to Whites (44.6%). South Asians (51.4%), Japanese (44.7%) and Koreans (39.3%) had statistically similar rates to Whites; Vietnamese, Chinese, and Filipino women all had significantly lower rates than Japanese women. Only 22.8% of immigrants used HRT compared to two out of five U.S. citizens. Comparative CHIS 2003 data will be analyzed upon release.

Learning Objectives:

Keywords: Menopause, Women's Health

Related Web page: chis.ucla.edu

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

[ Recorded presentation ] Recorded presentation

Listening to Women to Improve their Health, Mental Health and Quality of Life

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA