Studies have shown that socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with a variety of health outcomes. However, different SES indicators (e.g., education, income) have been used interchangeably to refer to SES, and it is not known whether researchers are measuring the same construct. We examined the relationship between SES and health care access among healthy women; determined which SES indicator (s) were most strongly associated with health care access in this population; and examined whether the SES/health care access relationship was the same for Blacks and Whites. Participants included 383 women (57.4% Whites and 42.6% Blacks) recruited in the community. Independent variables included yearly family income, education, occupation, median income within zip code of participants' residence, and ethnicity. Dependent variables were the total and subscale scores (accessibility, accommodation, and affordability) on a measure of health care access. Correlations among the SES variables (except occupation since this variable was nominal) were either non-significant or modest suggesting that these SES indicators may not be measuring the same construct. Yearly family income was the SES indicator most strongly associated with total health care access, and there was a significant interaction between occupation and ethnicity for total health care access. Occupation was the only SES indicator significantly associated with accessibility, median income by zip code was significantly associated with accommodation, and yearly family income was significantly associated with affordability. The overall patterns between SES and health care access were similar for Blacks and Whites.
Learning Objectives: (1) To recognize the importance of considering an array of SES indicators when examining health care access among healthy women; (2) To recognize the importance of examining health care access through a multidimensional approach
Keywords: Access to Care, Women
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.