141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

284283
Internet as a source of health information among the u.s. hispanic population: A “language divide”

Wednesday, November 6, 2013 : 12:30 PM - 12:50 PM

Maria De Jesus, PhD , School of International Service and Center for Health, Risk, and Society, American University, Washington, D.C., DC
Spurred by the rapid diffusion of information technology and advances in e-Health initiatives, the Internet is increasingly viewed as an important tool for health promotion and health education as well as a platform for the delivery of public health interventions. The Internet also holds promise in eliminating health disparities through increased access to health information. Using the Pew 2007 Hispanic Healthcare Survey, we examined the factors that are associated with each of the four media channels (Internet, radio, TV, and print media) as a source of health information among 4,013 Hispanic adults. The most significant predictor of health information-seeking behavior on the Internet was English proficiency. Policy implications include the need to address both the “digital divide” and the “language divide” by increasing Internet access, improving e-Health literacy, and creating high quality and culturally tailored websites in Spanish for Hispanic adults who have low levels of English proficiency and education.

Learning Areas:
Communication and informatics

Learning Objectives:
Identify the predictors of health information-seeking behavior on the Internet among the U.S. Hispanic population Explain the existing "language divide" in Internet use within the U.S. Hispanic population Describe recommendations on how to address the "language divide"

Keywords: Hispanic, Internet

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have authored several papers on issues of health and health care with underserved populations, including Hispanic population.
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.