Oladimeji Akinboro1,2, Allison Ottenbacher3,4, Marcus Martin5, Roderick Harrison5, Thomas James5,6, Eddilisa Martin5, James Murdoch5,7, Kim Linnear8, Kathryn Cardarelli9,4. 1. Department of Medicine, Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital, 16 Guion Place, New Rochelle, NY, 10801, USA. oakinbor@montefiore.org. 2. Formerly at the Center for Community Health, Texas Prevention Institute, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA. oakinbor@montefiore.org. 3. Behavioral Research Program, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA. 4. Formerly at the Center for Community Health, Texas Prevention Institute, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA. 5. 2M Research Services, Cedar Hill, TX, USA. 6. University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA. 7. University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA. 8. University of North Texas Health Sciences Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA. 9. University of Kentucky College of Public Health, Lexington, KY, USA.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Little is known about the awareness of public health professionals regarding racial and ethnic disparities in health in the United States of America (USA). Our study objective was to assess the awareness and perceptions of a group of public health workers in Texas regarding racial health disparities and their chief contributing causes. METHODS: We surveyed public health professionals working on a statewide grant in Texas, who were participants at health disparities' training workshops. Multivariable logistic regression was employed in examining the association between the participants' characteristics and their perceptions of the social determinants of health as principal causes of health disparities. RESULTS: There were 106 respondents, of whom 38 and 35 % worked in health departments and non-profit organizations, respectively. The racial/ethnic groups with the highest incidence of HIV/AIDS and hypertension were correctly identified by 63 and 50 % of respondents, respectively, but only 17, and 32 % were knowledgeable regarding diabetes and cancer, respectively. Seventy-one percent of respondents perceived that health disparities are driven by the major axes of the social determinants of health. Exposure to information about racial/ethnic health disparities within the prior year was associated with a higher odds of perceiving that social determinants of health were causes of health disparities (OR 9.62; 95 % CI 2.77, 33.41). CONCLUSION: Among public health workers, recent exposure to information regarding health disparities may be associated with their perceptions of health disparities. Further research is needed to investigate the impact of such exposure on their long-term perception of disparities, as well as the equity of services and programs they administer.
INTRODUCTION: Little is known about the awareness of public health professionals regarding racial and ethnic disparities in health in the United States of America (USA). Our study objective was to assess the awareness and perceptions of a group of public health workers in Texas regarding racial health disparities and their chief contributing causes. METHODS: We surveyed public health professionals working on a statewide grant in Texas, who were participants at health disparities' training workshops. Multivariable logistic regression was employed in examining the association between the participants' characteristics and their perceptions of the social determinants of health as principal causes of health disparities. RESULTS: There were 106 respondents, of whom 38 and 35 % worked in health departments and non-profit organizations, respectively. The racial/ethnic groups with the highest incidence of HIV/AIDS and hypertension were correctly identified by 63 and 50 % of respondents, respectively, but only 17, and 32 % were knowledgeable regarding diabetes and cancer, respectively. Seventy-one percent of respondents perceived that health disparities are driven by the major axes of the social determinants of health. Exposure to information about racial/ethnic health disparities within the prior year was associated with a higher odds of perceiving that social determinants of health were causes of health disparities (OR 9.62; 95 % CI 2.77, 33.41). CONCLUSION: Among public health workers, recent exposure to information regarding health disparities may be associated with their perceptions of health disparities. Further research is needed to investigate the impact of such exposure on their long-term perception of disparities, as well as the equity of services and programs they administer.
Entities:
Keywords:
Health care disparities; Health care personnel; Minority health; Public health practice; Public health workers; Racial health disparities
Authors: Paula A Braveman; Shiriki Kumanyika; Jonathan Fielding; Thomas Laveist; Luisa N Borrell; Ron Manderscheid; Adewale Troutman Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2011-05-06 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Melissa S Nolan; David Aguilar; Eric L Brown; Sarah M Gunter; Shannon E Ronca; Craig L Hanis; Kristy O Murray Journal: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Date: 2018-11-14