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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Beverly A. Mulvihill, PhD, School of Public Health, Department of Maternal and Child Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1665 University Boulevard Room 320, Birmingham, AL 35294-0022, (205)975-7942, bmulvihi@uab.edu, Darlene L. Shearer, DrPH, Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 Seventh Avenue, South, Birmingham, AL 35294-0017, and Brent J. Shelton, PhD, Department of Biostatistics/School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, RPHB 310 1530 3rd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294-0022.
When conducting the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey, 11 states and DC utilized a specific module to collect disability information. Analysis of the 11 states (including Alabama) and DC’s 1998 data noted that Alabama’s overall disability rate was the highest (21.8%) of the 11 states and DC. This study examined data from Alabama’s1999 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. We investigated demographic variables, general perceived health status, insurance status, and a series of mental health indicators for the general population and people with (PWD) and without disabilities (PWOD). Bivariate associations were examined using weighted Pearson chi-square analyses. Compared to the general public, there were no differences observed for PWD regarding ethnicity or gender. However, significant differences were found on income, marital status, education and age. PWD tend to be poorer*, have less education*, marry less often*, divorce more often*, and be significantly older* (*p=0.0001). Fifty percent of the general population said their health was excellent or very good while only 20% of PWD rated their health similarly. Likewise, PWD reported significantly more days when their mental health was not good (p=0.0001); more were without health insurance in the last year (p=0.0072) and more couldn’t afford to see a doctor in that time (p=0.0001). Conclusions: These data clearly indicate that basic demographic characteristics as well as perceptions of mental and physical health status are associated with disability status with PWD being worse off than PWOD. Implications for health promotion and education will be discussed.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Disability, Risk Factors
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.