201059 Health characteristics of South Asians: A comparison of estimates from two survey methodologies

Tuesday, November 10, 2009: 11:15 AM

Neetu Chawla, MPH , UCLA School of Public Health, Department of Health Services, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control Research, Los Angeles, CA
     
Background

We compared two independent data sources to assess the effects of sampling methodology on demographic, access, and health status characteristics between two samples of South Asians in California.

Methods

A random-digit-dial sample of 400 South Asians from the 2005 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) was compared to a convenience sample of 344 South Asians from the South Asian Needs Assessment (SANA). Comparisons were made between the CHIS sample, which interviewed in English, and the full SANA sample, which interviewed in English and 5 South Asian languages. Comparisons were also made between the CHIS sample and the English-only SANA sample (n=172). Chi-square analysis revealed that South Asians captured in the SANA sample were significantly older, lower-income, less educated, and less English proficient. Age, gender, and health insurance were controlled for using either logistic or ordered logistic regressions in access and utilization analyses. Predicted values were obtained and percentage point differences in predicted values between the two samples (predictive margins) were calculated.

Results

After controlling for age, gender, and being insured, the full SANA sample was significantly less likely to report lifetime receipt of mammograms and Pap tests, and recent cholesterol testing. The full SANA sample was also significantly more likely to report poor health status, daily smoking, and diabetes. When comparing the English-only SANA sample to the CHIS, the SANA sample fared significantly worse for cholesterol testing and diabetes.

Conclusions

Data collection efforts should utilize multiple methods to identify vulnerable population segments of South Asians to better serve their needs.

Learning Objectives:
1.) To assess the effects of sampling methodology on demographic, access, and health status characteristics between two data sources on South Asians. 2.) To identify which segments of the South Asian population are captured by each data collection method. 3.) To identify vulnerable segments of the South Asian population.

Keywords: Health Needs, Methodology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a doctoral student whose disseration research focuses on the South Asian population. I also have several years of experience working on issues surrounding minority health, vulnerable populations, and immigrant communities.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: California Health Interview Survey and its Relevance to Asian & Pacific Islander Health
See more of: Asian Pacific Islander Caucus for Public Health