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Online Program

326549
Association of Changes in Acute Discrimination and Cardiovascular Health of Latinos: Findings from a Northern Border Community Following Implementation of Several Restrictive Immigration Policies


Monday, November 2, 2015 : 9:10 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

Alana M.W. LeBron, PhD, MS, University of Michigan National Center for Institutional Diversity, Ann Arbor, MI
Amy J. Schulz, PhD, Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI
Graciela B. Mentz, PhD, Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI
Angela G. Reyes, MPH, Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation, Detroit, MI
Cindy Gamboa, Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Audio (mp3) recording Recorded Presentation (mp4)
Background. Since 9/11 the US has experienced an escalation of restrictive immigration polices, which may contribute to an increase in discrimination against Latinos, particularly in Detroit, MI, a northern border community.  Evidence suggests a positive association between discrimination and blood pressure.  We examined changes in discrimination for Latino, non-Latino White (NLW), and non-Latino Black (NLB) Detroit residents from 2002-2008, and racial/ethnic differences in the association of changes in discrimination with blood pressure.

Methods. The Healthy Environments Partnership Community Survey includes 219 Latino, NLB, and NLW participants aged >25 who were surveyed in 2002 and 2008.  The dependent variables, systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure, were assessed as the mean of the second and third blood pressure assessments. The independent variable is the mean of the lifetime acute discrimination (henceforth, discrimination) scale.  Racial/ethnic differences in changes in discrimination, and the association of these changes with blood pressure, were examined using generalized estimating equations.

Results. From 2002-2008, compared to NLWs, there was an increase in discrimination for Latinos (b=0.59,SE=0.28,p=0.04) and trends toward an increase for NLBs (b=0.40,SE=0.24,p=0.10).  Relative to NLWs, increases in discrimination for NLBs were associated with greater increases in SBP (p=0.04), but not for Latinos (p=0.80). However, after accounting for nativity, increases in discrimination were associated with increases in SBP and DBP for US-born (p<0.01) and immigrant (p<0.01) Latinos.

Discussion. Latinos and NLBs reported increases in discrimination from 2002-2008, which was associated with increases in blood pressure. We discuss implications of these findings for health equity policy.

Learning Areas:

Program planning
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related public policy
Social and behavioral sciences
Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health

Learning Objectives:
Describe associations between changes in discrimination and blood pressure, and variations in these associations by race and ethnicity. Describe theoretical processes that might contribute to increases in discrimination by race and ethnicity and implications for cardiovascular health for residents of Detroit, MI. Identify potential health equity policies intervention strategies to promote and support health.

Keyword(s): Latinos, Immigrant Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I conceptualized and lead this research project.
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: 3054.0: Oral: Addressing local policies to improve Latino communities