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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Teena Francois, MPH, Jocelyn Hirschman, MPH, Ami Shah, MPH, and Steven Whitman, PhD. Sinai Urban Health Institute, 1500 S. California Avenue, Mount Sinai Hospital, K439, Chicago, IL 60608, 773-257-2734, frat@sinai.org

Introduction: Race is a key determinant of health. However, much remains to be understood of the complex and multi-dimensional nature of racial discrimination and the mechanisms by which health is impacted. Community level data have the potential to augment existing research by shedding light on the prevalence of racial discrimination in a broad context as it is experienced on an individual and community level.

Methods: A comprehensive health survey was implemented in six racially/ethnically diverse community areas in Chicago. Self-reported data were gathered from 1,699 randomly selected adults (age 18-75 years). Perceived racial discrimination was assessed with 32 questions documenting the types of discrimination experienced across several settings. Additionally, emotional and behavioral coping responses were assessed.

Results: Survey data revealed that 62% of the males from one NH-black community experienced discrimination “from the police” compared to 5% in the NH-white community. Minority community respondents experienced discrimination “when getting medical care” 13 times more often than those from the NH-white community. 70% of NH-black and 63% of Puerto Rican respondents experienced being treated “as if they were inferior.” Frustration and anger were the most common emotional responses to experiences of perceived discrimination. 69%of Mexican-American respondents reported accepting discrimination as a fact of life and only 34% of them “tried to do something about their experience”.

Implications: Community level data have important implications for advancing our knowledge understanding of racial discrimination and its affects on health outcomes. Such data can also establish a framework for advancing studies in this area.

Learning Objectives:

• Upon completion of the session participants will be able to
• • Recognize the prevalence of perceived racial discrimination experienced by residents of six Chicago communities.
• • Recognize the relationships between experienced discrimination due to race/ethnicity and coping strategies health outcomes.
• • Recognize the need for community level data to further the understanding of the affects of perceived racism/discrimination on health status.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation