Parents of Urban Adolescents in Harlem and the Internet: A Survey on Health Information Resources
Author Information
Author(s): Cohall Alwyn T, Cohall Renee, Dye Bonnie, Dini Sheila, Vaughan Roger D, Baur Cynthia, Bernhardt Jay
Primary Institution: Mailman School of Public Health of Columbia University
Hypothesis
What are the health information preferences of parents of urban adolescents in Harlem?
Conclusion
The Internet is underutilized by urban parents of color for health information, despite their interest in using it.
Supporting Evidence
- 84% of parents owned computers at home.
- 74% had Internet access at home.
- 62% expressed interest in attending workshops to improve Internet skills.
- Only 14% used the Internet for health information.
- Parents preferred health information from health professionals and family.
Takeaway
Parents in Harlem want to learn more about using the Internet to find health information for their kids, but many don't use it much right now.
Methodology
A confidential, self-administered survey was conducted among parents of 9th-grade students over two years.
Potential Biases
The sample primarily consisted of minority parents in an urban community, which may limit generalizability.
Limitations
The study's results may not reflect all parents of 9th graders due to low participation rates and the specific demographic of the sample.
Participant Demographics
The sample included 47% Black/African American, 47% Hispanic/Latino, and 86% female participants.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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