141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

292808
Community perceptions of health disparities: Results from an evaluation of a faith-based coalition

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Jaime Gutierrez, MPH , Center for Evaluation and Applied Research, The New York Academy of Medicine, New York, NY
Carlos Devia, MA , Bronx Health REACH- NY CEED, Institute for Family Health, New York, NY
Linda Weiss, PhD , Center for Evaluation and Applied Research, The New York Academy of Medicine, New York, NY
Charmaine Ruddock, M.S. , The Institute for Family Health, New York, NC
Tongtan Chantarat, MPH, CLC , Center for Evaluation and Applied Research, The New York Academy of Medicine, New York, NY
Joyce Davis, MDiv (candidate) , Walker Memorial Baptist Church, Bronx, NY
Maxine Golub, MPH , Planning and Development, Institute for Urban Family Health, New York, NY
Toni Carter, RN , Agape Love Christian Center, Bronx, NY
Ellenrita Purcaro, BA , Highbridge Community Life Center, Bronx, NY
Rosa Rosen, JD , NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, New York, NY
Evalina Irish-Spencer, MS, RD , Cornell University Cooperative Extension, New York, NY
Brenda Barretto, CMA , First Pentecostal Church of Jerome, Bronx, NY
Robert Foley, DMin, DD , Cosmopolitan Church of the Lord Jesus, Bronx, NY
Neil Calman, MD , Department of Family Medicine & Community Health, Institute for Family Health and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
Background: Bronx Health REACH (BHR), a coalition of over 70 community-based organizations, developed a Faith-Based Outreach Initiative (FBOI) to engage churches in health education, promotion, and advocacy related to the impact of disparities in health care access and treatment.

Methods: We administered baseline surveys to congregants present at church services at 20 Bronx and Harlem churches (9 Latino/11 Black). Surveys asked participants to define health disparities and to note experiences and attitudes regarding disparate care.

Results: A total of 1,865 congregants (65% Black/35% Latino) completed the survey. Respondents were primarily female (69%) and high school graduates (76%). Twenty-one percent of survey respondents were Spanish speakers. Forty percent of participants reported personal experience with disparate care, and 75% felt that the healthcare system treats people unfairly because of race or ethnicity. Participants with at least a high school diploma reported more personal experience with disparate care (40% vs. 32%, p=0.0362) and unfair treatment (79% vs. 64%, p<0.0001) as compared to those without a diploma. English proficient participants reported more personal experience with disparate care (41% vs. 36%, p=0.0423) and unfair treatment (81% vs. 67%, p<0.0001) than Spanish speakers. Comparable trends were found when results were stratified by gender, race/ethnicity, and regular place of care (clinics versus private doctor's offices).

Conclusions: Significant proportions of study participants perceive and experience disparities in the health care system. Greater awareness of disparities among more educated and English proficient participants suggests that Spanish speakers and the less educated may have inadequate knowledge regarding optimal health care.

Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Explain community perceptions and awareness of health disparities in Christian churches by demographics. Describe efforts to engage faith institutions in health education, health promotion, and advocacy related to the impact of disparities in health care access and treatment.

Keywords: Faith Community, Health Disparities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been evaluation project director for diabetes prevention/management and cardiovascular health promotion studies implemented in faith-institutions across New York State. I am an NIH scholar on translational health disparities research. My scientific interests focus on the nexus between Community-Based Participatory Research and Public Policy.
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.