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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Amina Alio, PhD, Hamisu Salihu, MD, PhD, Amanda Johnson, Clarissa Bynum, and Maria Velazquez. Council on African American Affairs, 1115 U Street NW, Suite 201, Washington, DC 20009, 202-518-5954, aalio@africanamericanaffairs.org

We utilized a mixed method approach to data collection to assess the factors predictive of preventive care utilization among children in 12 Black communities across the United States. The quantitative data collected included a telephone survey conducted from February 2004 to May 2005, of 722 Black caregivers of children 5 or younger. The survey measured birth and health outcomes, including children's health condition, insurance coverage, and evaluation of healthcare. Qualitative data included 81 interviews with healthcare providers in all 12 sites, 10 focus groups in 5 communities with African American caretakers of children 5 and younger. Individual and group interview questions focused on the socioeconomic and cultural barriers to accessing pediatric preventive healthcare. Preventive healthcare was identified as 1) child having had a check-up in the past 12 months, and 2) child being up-to-date with immunization. Overall, our combined findings show that socioeconomic factors and Blacks' perceptions of health, healthcare providers and the health system in general have an impact on their utilization of preventive healthcare for children. Qualitative data provide clarification for the findings, as health providers and caretakers provide a larger view of the problems and details on the daily struggles to access pediatric preventive healthcare. Based on the qualitative data, we present a model of Black's view of healthcare and perceived barriers to accessing services. The mixed method approach provides local health providers with a clearer picture of the needs of their community and helps target outreach efforts at increasing access to and utilization of services.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session attendees will be able to

• Recognize the value added of combining mixed methods in public health research.
• Articulate the barriers to Black children's access to preventive healthcare.
• Apply the model in their own research.

Keywords: Access to Health Care, African American

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered