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325583
Demographic Characteristics and Health Behaviors among a Diverse Group of Adult Black Males (Ages 18 to 64 years) in the United States


Monday, November 2, 2015

Shondelle Wilson-Frederick, PhD, Office of Minority Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, MD
Roland Thorpe Jr., PhD, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Juanita Chinn, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, Hyattsville, MD
Lacreisha Ejike-King, PhD, MS, Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, MD
Rashida Dorsey, PhD, MPH, Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC
Non-Hispanic Black (hereafter referred to as Black) males in the United States face persistent health challenges. While Blacks are a heterogeneous population that includes individuals born in various countries, including the United States, data are rarely reported by nativity. To identify the underlying factors that contribute to disparate health outcomes in Black males, it is important to examine the health status of both U.S. born and foreign-born Black males.

Using data from National Health Interview Surveys 2002-2012, we examined demographic and health measures among 14,851 non-elderly Black males (ages 18-64 years) by nativity and length of time in the United States: U.S.-born (89%), foreign-born with less than 10 years in the United States (3%) and foreign-born with 10 years or more in the United States (8%).  On average, foreign-born Black males who lived in the United States for 10 years or more were older (mean ± SD; 41 ± 12 years) than their counterparts. Compared to the total sample (24%), foreign-born Black males who lived in the United States for less than 10 years represented the highest proportion of Black males who lacked health care insurance coverage.  Foreign-born Black males that lived in the United States for 10 years or more (62%) represented highest proportion of Black males who completed some college or greater.  Nearly 75% of foreign-born Black males that lived in the United States for less than 10 years lacked a usual place for preventive medical care compared to 50% of the total sample.  Foreign-born Black males who lived in the United States for less than 10 years (45%) had the highest proportion of healthy weight compared to 29% of the total sample.  However, U.S.-born Black males (34%) represented the highest proportion of males with a diagnosis of hypertension. 

These findings demonstrate the importance of examining health data by nativity and length of time in the United States among Black males. This information may illuminate ways to increase health awareness, bolster health care access, and further develop effective programs and policies to reduce health disparities among this diverse population in the United States.

Learning Areas:

Chronic disease management and prevention
Epidemiology
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Describe the heterogeneity of demographics, health status, and health behaviors for non-elderly Black males in the United States Identify demographic factors, health status, and health behaviors for Black males in the United States by nativity status and length of time in the United States

Keyword(s): Health Disparities/Inequities, Men’s Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I serve as the Data Policy Lead in the Office of Minority Health (OMH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In this role, I support the coordination of OMH efforts to improve the availability and quality of national data to assess the health status for racial and ethnic minority populations. I also develop, conduct, and support data and statistical analyses on health conditions and policy issues that impact racial and ethnic minorities.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3204.0: Poster Session - Social and Health Behaviors in Epidemiologic Research