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Abstract #160947

Gary Klein, PhD¹, Allegra Raboff Gordon, MPH², Nicole Dreisbach, BA³, Lisa Kleiner, JD, MSS³, Abdul Beraima, PhD¹, and Francine Axler, MPH³. (1) IS, Philadelphia Health Management Corporation, 260 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19102, 215-985-2564, gary@phmc.org, (2) Research & Evaluation, Philadelphia Health Management Corporation, 260 S. Broad St., 18th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102, (3) Research and Evaluation, Philadelphia Health Management Corporation, 260 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19102

This presentation addresses the health needs of the growing Latino population in Southeastern Pennsylvania, which vary by socioeconomic status and birthplace. Data derive from PHMC's 2006 Household Health Survey, a biannual survey of over 10,000 households in Southeastern Pennsylvania, which intentionally over-sampled Latino adults. The three largest Latino subgroups based on birthplace are: U.S. (n=418), Puerto Rico (n=312) and Mexico (n=103). Anticipated health differences between U.S. and not U.S. born were found, but less anticipated were large and statistically significant differences in self-reported health status, asthma, diabetes and feelings of stress between Latinos born in Mexico versus Puerto Rico, with the latter displaying poorer health levels. For example, when looking at the poor under age 45, 46.4% of Puerto Rico-born adults reported their health as fair or poor compared to 28.9% of Mexico-born adults. Using logistic regression to control for socioeconomic status and age, Puerto Rico-born adults remain significantly more likely than U.S. or Mexico-born adults to have poorer health levels. The adjusted odds ratio for Puerto Rico-born to report fair or poor health is 3.18 compared to Mexico-born and 3.16 compared to U.S.-born, both of which are greater than the adjusted odds ratio of 2.96 for poverty. In conclusion, the particularly poor health levels of the Puerto Rico-born demand attention and suggest further examination of their different circumstances in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Challenges and limitations of studying this population will also be addressed.

Learning Objectives:

• To ascertain the extent of health problems, including asthma, diabetes and stress, among Latinos in rural and urban parts of Southeastern Pennsylvania.
• To comprehend the impact of birthplace and socioeconomic status on health measures based on utilization of Logistic Regression analysis.
• To appreciate the advantages and disadvantages of a large-scale survey to measure Latino health.

Keywords: Latino Health, Poverty

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

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.