Racial and Social Class Differences in Diabetes Preventive Care
Author Information
Author(s): Oladele Carol R Williams, Barnett Elizabeth
Primary Institution: University of South Florida, College of Public Health
Hypothesis
Blacks and Hispanics would receive less preventive care after controlling for independent variables.
Conclusion
Persons of lower social class and those without health insurance are at the greatest risk for not receiving preventive services.
Supporting Evidence
- Blacks and Hispanics engaged in preventive care practices more frequently than Whites.
- Persons of lower social class were at greatest risk for not receiving preventive care regardless of race/ethnicity.
- Persons without health care coverage were twice as likely to have not visited the doctor in the previous year.
Takeaway
This study found that Black and Hispanic people with diabetes actually get more preventive care than White people, but those with lower income and no health insurance struggle the most to get care.
Methodology
Data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey for 1998–2001 were analyzed using logistic regression.
Potential Biases
Recall bias may affect the accuracy of reported preventive care practices.
Limitations
The study may have missed some individuals with diabetes who lack access to healthcare, and the social class index may not fully capture the complexity of social class.
Participant Demographics
81% White, 11% Black, 8% Hispanic; 58% women; 8% without health insurance.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.5
Confidence Interval
95% CI for odds ratios provided in results.
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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