Objectives. This study examined racial disparity in health status among users of different racial and ethnic groups cared for by the nation’s community health centers (CHCs) and compared these results to the findings for individuals with non-CHC sites as their usual source of care. Methods. CHC users from the 1994 CHC User Survey and non-CHC users from the 1994 National Health Interview Survey comprised the analytic sample. Bivariate comparisons were made between individuals’ race/ethnicity and their experience of healthy life, an integrated measure that incorporates both activity limitation and self-perceived health status. Multiple regressions were followed to examine the independent association of race/ethnicity with healthy life experience for both CHC and non-CHC users while controlling for sociodemographic correlates of health. Results. The results of the study indicate that among CHC users, racial and ethnic minorities did not experience worse health than whites. In comparison, significant racial and ethnic disparities were found among non-CHC users. Whites experienced significantly healthier life than both blacks and non-white Hispanics. These findings persist after controlling for sociodemographic correlates of health. Conclusions. The study demonstrates that while racial disparities in health persist nationally, these disparities do not exist within CHCs, a safety-net provider with an explicit mission to serve vulnerable populations.
Learning Objectives: To learn racial disparity in health status among users of different racial and ethnic groups cared for by the nation’s community health centers (CHCs) and compared these results to the findings for individuals with non-CHC sites as their usual source of care.
Keywords: Community Health Centers, Community-Based Health Promotion
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Community Health Centers
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.