Conference Abstract Compendium Examples from the ... - CityMatCH

2009 CityMatCH Urban MCH Leadership ConferenceCircumstances of perceived discrimination among new mothers: 2005 Los AngelesMommy and Baby (LAMB) surveyPRIMARY CONTACT:Chandra A Higgins, MPHResearch Analyst IIILos Angeles Public Health - Maternal,Child, and Adolescent Health Programs600 South Commonwealth Ave #800Los Angeles, CA, 90005Phone: (213) 639-6455Fax: (213) 637-8275Email: chiggins@ph.lacounty.govCATEGORYRacial and ethnic health disparitiesFOCUSData FocusCO-PRESENTER(S)/AUTHOR(S):Shin Margaret Chao, schao@ph.lacounty.gov(Presenter)Cathleen Bemis, cbemis@ph.lacounty.gov(Author)Diana Ramos, dramos@ph.lacounty.gov(Author)Cindy Harding, charding@ph.lacounty.gov(Author)BACKGROUNDPerceived discrimination has been found to be related to health problems. However, studies addressing thelife-course exposure of discrimination to mothers in Los Angeles County are lacking.OBJECTIVESTo investigate racial disparities in the circumstances women report feeling discrimination.METHODSWe used data from the 2005 LAMB Survey. LAMB is a biennial, population-based survey modeled afterthe Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System. Perceived discrimination was measured usingKrieger’s seven-item discrimination scale. We performed multivariate logistic regressions to evaluate theracial disparities in various circumstances where new mothers reported discrimination while controllingfor maternal characteristics. Variables included in the multivariate models included mother’s race, yearsin the U.S., mother’s education, mothers age and marital status.RESULTSThe data presented are from the 2005 LAMB survey (N=5,211) and responses are weighted to representall Los Angeles County births in 2005. Overall 42% of African American and 41% of Asian Americanwomen reported some form of discrimination. In the multivariate logistic regression, when looking atspecific situations of discrimination, we found that at home and at school Asian women were significantlymore likely to report discrimination (aOR 1.82 and 2.5, respectively) p