The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #70361

Karen Pierre, MSN MPH¹, Mary Comerford, MSPH¹, Jesus Sanchez, PhD², Dixie Koo, MS¹, Yaun Li¹, and Dale D. Chitwood, PhD². (1) Department of Sociology, University of Miami, 5665 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Parking Garage Bldg., 1st Floor, Coral Gables, FL 33146-0719, 305-284-6176, k.pierre@umiami.edu, (2) Sociology Research Center, University of Miami, 5665 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Coral Gables, FL 33146

OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study examines the utilization of four preventative health care services among women who use illicit drugs and women from the same neighborhoods who do not use drugs. The health services examined are primary physical examination, breast exam by a health professional, pap smear, and mammogram in the past year. METHOD: A stratified network-based snowball sample of 633 women were recruited from neighborhoods with high rates of drug use in Miami-Dade, Florida. Logistic regression models identified demographic and health care variables associated with receiving the four preventative health care services. RESULTS: Insurance coverage was an independent factor associated with each of the four preventative services; those with insurance were more likely to receive a physical exam (OR=1.58, CI 1.07, 2.33), a breast examination (OR=4.95, CI 3.25, 7.56), a pap smear (OR=3.26, CI 2.21, 4.81), and a mammogram (OR=7.11, CI 3.14, 16.11). Women who were injection drug users (OR=0.45, CI 0.25, 0.80) and other chronic drug users (OR=0.58, CI 0.37, 0.93) were less likely than women who do not use drugs to have received a physical exam. Women who injected drugs were less likely to receive a breast exam (OR=0.43, CI 0.23, 0.77), and a pap smear (OR=0.43, CI 0.25, 0.77) in the past year. CONCLUSION: Preventative health care is an important aspect in the reduction of morbidity and mortality. While several factors play a role in obtaining preventative health services, improving insurance coverage and reducing drug use would increase the likelihood of women receiving these services.

Learning Objectives:

• 1.Know the prevalence of preventative health services among a neighborhood community sample of women.
• 2.List two factors associated with preventative health services among a neighborhood sample of women used injection drugs, other chronic drugs, and non-users.
• 3.Understand the importance of insurance as a factor associated with the utilization of preventative health services.

Keywords: Prevention, Women's Health

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.