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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

L. Krisa Hoyle, MPH, RD, The Center for Border Health Research, 1100 N. Stanton, Suite 410, El Paso, TX 79902, 915-577-0970, khoyle@cbhr.org, Jon Law, MPH, Center for Border Health Research, 1100 North Stanton, Suite 410, El Paso, TX 79902, and James VanDerslice, PhD, Environmental Health Assessment, Washinton State Department of Health, PO Box 47825, 7211 Cleanwater Lane, Olympia, WA 98504.

Background – The Paso del Norte region includes Doña Ana County in southern New Mexico and El Paso County in western Texas, both on the U.S.-México border. Due to differences in the ethnic and economic characteristics of this population, local estimates of chronic diseases and their respective risk factors were needed for program planning and evaluation. In response, the Center for Border Health Research (CBHR) implemented a telephone survey of the region's residents modeled after the BRFSS. Objective – Assess differences in the prevalence of key chronic diseases and risk factors in the region by ethnicity and to their respective states. Method –The survey was conducted between September 2002 and August 2003 and utilized the 2002 core instrument, several CDC optional modules, state-added questions from Texas, and two modules of questions specific to the local area. CDC data collection and quality assurance procedures were followed. Weighted means and proportions were estimated using STATA. Results – A total of 1,326 interviews were conducted. El Paso County had the highest concentration of uninsured individuals in the region, with an estimated 43.7% of Hispanic residents lacking health insurance compared to10.8% of non-Hispanics. 37.3% of Hispanics in Dona Ana County were uninsured. Of all fifty states in 2002, Texas had the highest proportion of people lacking health insurance (27.8%); New Mexico had the fifth highest (21.3%). Conclusions – Substantial differences are seen between ethnic groups. CBHR is conducting another survey in 2005 and exploring the possibility of conducting a local BRFSS in Cd. Juárez, México.

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

• Recognize the major Hispanic health disparities on the US-Mexico border, Paso del Norte region.
• Define the public health issues related to a lack of health care access, secondary to lack of health care insurance and Hispanic ethnicity.
• Understand how a local BRFSS is organized and utilized.

Keywords: Hispanic, Community Research

Related Web page: www.cbhr.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation