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Josephine M. Gathura, BSN, Department of Public Health, University Of Connecticut Health Center, 33 Orchard St. Apt 4, Bristol, CT 06010, 860-794-9743, Mukaminyakio@yahoo.com and C. Unson, PhD, Center on Aging, University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030-6147.
OBJECTIVE: This study investigated whether age, education and type of illness (arthritis, breast cancer, heart failure) affected the quality of life of older African-American women as measured by the SF 36-Physical Component Scores (PCS) and Mental Component Scores (MCS) METHOD: 203 women were randomly selected from voter’s registries of two towns, a list of community outreach participants of a teaching hospital or were identified by snow balling technique. They were interviewed in their homes by trained interviewers and paid a nominal fee for participation. The women were 60 years or older, able to walk by themselves, and willing and able to complete the interview. RESULTS: The average age of the respondent was 70.8 years and the average years of formal schooling was 11.4 years. Fifty-four percent owned their own homes and 56.7% their own cars. Twenty-nine percent were title19 recipients. Participants scores were below the national norm for women 64 years old or older on the PCS (39.8 vs. norm of 41.0) and above the norm on the MCS (53.5 vs. of 51.4). Most frequently reported illness were arthritis (69.5%), high blood pressure (76.8%), high cholesterol (45.3%), diabetes (36.55%) and asthma (24.1%). In regression analysis, higher PCS scores were significantly predicted by absence of arthritis (P<.01) and heart failure (P<.01) (R2=.11, P<.001). Higher MCs scores were predicted by more years of formal education (P<.01) and absence of breast cancer (P<.05) (R2=.07, P<.05). CONCLUSION: Quality of life among older African-American women were affected by type of illness and by educational attainment.
Learning Objectives:
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.