Conference Abstract Compendium Examples from the ... - CityMatCH

2009 CityMatCH Urban MCH Leadership ConferenceReactions to race among adult women (Age 18 and Older) in Franklin County, OhioPRIMARY CONTACT:Suellen Bennett, MSPHEpidemiologistColumbus Public Health240 Parsons AveColumbus, OH, 43215Phone: (614) 645-5658Fax: (614) 645-5888Email: suellenb@columbus.govCATEGORYRacial and ethnic health disparitiesFOCUSData FocusBACKGROUNDRecent studies have suggested that the experience of racism contributes to a range of poor healthoutcomes. This includes adverse birth outcomes and may help to explain the continued disparitiesbetween Black and White women even after adjusting for education and income. Dr. Camara Jonesdeveloped several questions for the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to try tomeasure racism. Only a few states have used the module and very little analysis has be performed orpublished since it’s inclusion in the 2002 BRFSS. We are also unaware of county level analysis.OBJECTIVESOur objective is to examine the experience of racism by women in Franklin County, Ohio. This includeshow often women think about race, how they perceive being treated when seeking health care, andphysical and emotional symptoms as a result of race based treatment.METHODSData are from the 2005 Franklin County Health Risk Assessment, a telephone survey of adults (age 18+)that took place between January 2005 and March 2006. Data were analyzed for 1417 women. Descriptiveanalyses were performed looking at self-reported race and the following four questions:• How often do you think about race?• Within the past 12 months when seeking health care, do you feel your experiences were worse thanother races, the same as other races, better than other races, or worse than some races but better thanothers?• Within the past 12 months on average, how often have you experienced any physical symptoms, forexample a headache, an upset stomach, tensing of your muscles, or a pounding heart, as a result of howyou were treated based on your race?• Within the past 12 months on average, how often have you felt emotionally upset, for example angry,sad, or frustrated, as a result of how you were treated based on your race?14