265593 Distortion between self-rated health status and poor health indicators among black Mississippi Delta adults: Findings from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Vanessa L. Short, PhD, MPH , Preventive Health, Mississippi State Department of Health, Jackson, MS
Vincent Mendy, MPH, CPH , Mississippi Delta Health Collaborative, Mississippi State Department of Health, Greenwood, MS
Larry Smith, PhD , Delta-CHES, Mississippi State Department of Health, Jackson, MS
Cassandra Dove, MPH , Chronic Disease Programs, Mississippi State Department of Health, Jackson, MS
INTRODUCTION: Mississippi Delta blacks experience high rates of poor health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease (CVD), yet a large proportion rate their health as favorable. To identify discrepancies, we assessed the association between self-rated health status (SRHS) and CVD-related health conditions and risk behaviors.

METHODS: 2007-2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data from 3,519 black Delta residents aged ³ 18 years were analyzed. SRHS was dichotomized as optimal (excellent/very good/good) and suboptimal (fair/poor). Among those with optimal SRHS, prevalence estimates and 95% CIs were calculated for self-reported hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, overweight/obesity, fruit/vegetable consumption, physical inactivity, smoking, and alcohol use. Logistic regression models adjusting for sex, age and income were used to evaluate the relationship between optimal SRH and these variables.

RESULTS: Approximately 80% of respondents reported optimal SRHS, while also consuming £ 5 fruits/vegetables daily (83.9%), smoking (20.9%), and being overweight/obese (70.9%), sedentary (32.7%), hypertensive (29.3%), and hyperlipidemic (27.0%). Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) of optimal SRHS were equivalent for those who reported and those who did not report physical inactivity (AOR 0.72, 95% CI 0.54-1.00), smoking (AOR 0.80, 95% CI 0.56-1.13), overweight/obesity (AOR 0.70, 95% CI 0.50-1.00), few fruits/vegetables (AOR 0.81, 95% CI 0.53-1.24), and heavy/binge drinking (AOR 1.17, 95% CI 0.70-1.94).

DISCUSSION: The importance of proper diet and exercise and the consequences of obesity, smoking and alcohol use may not be recognized in Mississippi Delta blacks. This may reflect cultural perceptions of what is considered “healthy.” The distortion between health and risk behaviors should be considered when developing health messages and programs targeting this population.

Learning Areas:
Epidemiology

Learning Objectives:
To assess the association between self-rated health status and cardiovascular disase-related health conditions and risk behaviors among Mississippi Delta blacks.

Keywords: Health Assessment, African American

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am an Epidemiologist at the Mississippi State Department of Health.
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.

Back to: 5011.0: Chronic Disease Epidemiology Poster Session 2