Jennifer S Barber1,2, Elizabeth Ela3, Heather Gatny4, Yasamin Kusunoki4,5, Souhiela Fakih6, Peter Batra4, Karen Farris7. 1. Department of Sociology, University of Michigan, 500 S. State St., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA. jebarber@umich.edu. 2. Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, 426 Thompson St., Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, USA. jebarber@umich.edu. 3. Population Research Center, University of Michigan, 305 E. 23rd Street, Austin, MI, TX 78712, USA. 4. Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, 426 Thompson St., Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, USA. 5. School of Nursing, University of Michigan, 400 N. Ingalls, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA. 6. School of Pharmacy, Chapman University, 9401 Jeronima Road, Irvine, CA, 92618, USA. 7. College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, 428 Church St., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Race differences in contraceptive use and in geographic access to pharmacies are well established. We explore race differences in characteristics of nearby pharmacies that are likely to facilitate (or not) contraceptive purchase. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted analyses with two geocode-linked datasets: (1) the Relationship Dynamics and Social Life (RDSL) project, a study of a random sample of 1003 women ages 18-19 living in a county in Michigan in 2008-09; and (2) the Community Pharmacy Survey, which collected data on 82 pharmacies in the county in which the RDSL study was conducted. RESULTS: Although young African-American women tend to live closer to pharmacies than their white counterparts (1.2 miles to the nearest pharmacy for African Americans vs. 2.1 miles for whites), those pharmacies tend to be independent pharmacies (59 vs. 16%) that are open fewer hours per week (64.6 vs. 77.8) and have fewer female pharmacists (17 vs. 50%), fewer patient brochures on contraception (2 vs. 5%), more difficult access to condoms (49% vs. 85% on the shelf instead of behind glass, behind the counter, or not available), and fewer self-check-out options (3 vs. 9%). More African-American than white women live near African-American pharmacists (8 vs. 3%). These race differences are regardless of poverty, measured by the receipt of public assistance. CONCLUSIONS: Relative to white women, African-American women may face a "contraception desert," wherein they live nearer to pharmacies, but those pharmacies have characteristics that may impede the purchase of contraception.
OBJECTIVES: Race differences in contraceptive use and in geographic access to pharmacies are well established. We explore race differences in characteristics of nearby pharmacies that are likely to facilitate (or not) contraceptive purchase. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted analyses with two geocode-linked datasets: (1) the Relationship Dynamics and Social Life (RDSL) project, a study of a random sample of 1003 women ages 18-19 living in a county in Michigan in 2008-09; and (2) the Community Pharmacy Survey, which collected data on 82 pharmacies in the county in which the RDSL study was conducted. RESULTS: Although young African-American women tend to live closer to pharmacies than their white counterparts (1.2 miles to the nearest pharmacy for African Americans vs. 2.1 miles for whites), those pharmacies tend to be independent pharmacies (59 vs. 16%) that are open fewer hours per week (64.6 vs. 77.8) and have fewer female pharmacists (17 vs. 50%), fewer patient brochures on contraception (2 vs. 5%), more difficult access to condoms (49% vs. 85% on the shelf instead of behind glass, behind the counter, or not available), and fewer self-check-out options (3 vs. 9%). More African-American than white women live near African-American pharmacists (8 vs. 3%). These race differences are regardless of poverty, measured by the receipt of public assistance. CONCLUSIONS: Relative to white women, African-American women may face a "contraception desert," wherein they live nearer to pharmacies, but those pharmacies have characteristics that may impede the purchase of contraception.
Entities:
Keywords:
Access to pharmacies; Contraceptive use; Pharmacy; Race differences
Authors: Stephanie M Spernak; Matthew Mintz; Jerome Paulson; Harry B Burke; Mrinalini Gadkari; Charles Faselis; Jill G Joseph Journal: J Asthma Date: 2005-11 Impact factor: 2.515