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Health Disparities and Delayed Health care among Older Adults in California: A Perspective from Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration
Author(s) -
Du Yan,
Xu Qingwen
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
public health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.471
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1525-1446
pISSN - 0737-1209
DOI - 10.1111/phn.12260
Subject(s) - ethnic group , race and health , immigration , health equity , public health , health care , medicine , gerontology , mental health , foreign born , population , environmental health , geography , sociology , nursing , political science , psychiatry , law , archaeology , anthropology
Objectives To examine racial/ethnic/immigration disparities in health and to investigate the relationships among race/ethnic/immigration status, delayed health care, and health of the elderly. Design and Sample Responses from 13,508 people aged 65 and above were analyzed based on the California Health Interview Survey ( CHIS ) 2011–2012. Measures Key variables include race/ethnicity/immigration status, health outcome, and delayed health care. Age, gender, education, work status, and annual family income are used as covariates. Results The findings indicate that Whites (regardless of country of birth) and U.S.‐born Asians enjoy better health than Latinos, African‐Americans, and Foreign‐born Asians. Foreign‐born Asians and foreign‐born Latinos have the poorest self‐reported health and mental health, respectively. Delayed use of health care is negatively associated with both self‐reported health and mental health status. Conclusions Health disparities exist among older adult populations; the combined effects of minority and immigrant status can be approximated from the results in this study. Health care accessibility and the quality of care should be promoted in minority/immigrant populations. Public health nurses have a strong potential to aide in reducing health disparities among an aging American population that continues to exhibit increasing racial/ethnic diversity.