Abstract

Low educational attainment is associated with many social risk factors that can further worsen health outcomes.

Aydin Calsetta¹, Eric Rodonis¹, Karen Martinez¹, Sydney Whittaker¹, Erin Cova, M.D. candidate², Nivedha Natchiappan, M.D. candidate² and Christopher Steele, M.D., M.P.H.²
(1)University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, (2)University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT

APHA 2024 Annual Meeting and Expo

Studies show that the effect of social risk factors on health is cumulative such that patients who experience more social risk factors have poorer health-related quality of life. Although low educational attainment (LEA), specifically, not completing high school (HS), is known to lead to poor health and possible premature death; little is known about the association between LEA and other social risk factors. We identified and compared the prevalence of social risk factors in patients with <HS education and education ≥HS to determine what factors may be further contributing to poor health outcomes in patients with LEA.

We reviewed results from social risk factor screenings performed 10/2021-10/2023 at a primary care clinic in Hartford, Connecticut. We compared the prevalence of social risk factors among patients who did and did not complete HS using Chi-square test of independence (p<0.05).

Volunteers screened 2,153 patients, 386 (17.9%) of whom did not complete HS. Compared to patients with ≥HS education, patients with <HS education had a higher prevalence of unemployment (17.4% v. 13.4%, p=0.041), food insecurity (15.5% v. 9.8%, p=.0067), difficulty affording utilities (16.9% v. 9.8%, p=.0001), lack of transportation (30.8% v. 14.8%, p<0.001), and difficulty accessing healthcare/medication (5.1% v. 2.4%, p=0.007). The two groups had a similar prevalence of homelessness (9.0% v. 6.7%,p =0.17).

Our results show LEA is associated with many social risk factors. These findings argue that patients with LEA should be routinely screened for social risk factors so, all factors that negatively impact their health can be identified and addressed.

Advocacy for health and health education Assessment of individual and community needs for health education Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs Public health or related research