%0 Journal Article %J Matern Child Health J %D 2013 %T Health disparities among childrearing women with disabilities. %A Kim, Miok %A Kim, Hyun-Jun %A Hong, Seunghye %A Fredriksen-Goldsen, Karen I %K Adolescent %K Adult %K Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System %K Child Rearing %K Child, Preschool %K Chronic Disease %K Disabled Persons %K Female %K Health Behavior %K Health Services Accessibility %K Health Status Disparities %K Health Status Indicators %K Health Surveys %K Healthcare Disparities %K Humans %K Middle Aged %K Mothers %K Prevalence %K Quality of Life %K Socioeconomic Factors %K Washington %K Young Adult %X

This study examines leading health indicators for childrearing women with disabilities, including health-related quality of life, chronic health conditions, adverse and preventive health behaviors, health care access, and social and emotional support. The study analyzes aggregated data from the Washington State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (n = 28,629). The weighted prevalence of key health indicators of childrearing women with disabilities (aged 18-59) are compared with childrearing women without disabilities. A series of adjusted logistic regression analyses are applied, controlling for confounding variables. When compared to childrearing women without disabilities, childrearing women with disabilities are less likely to have a partner or spouse, report lower income and education levels and are older. Childrearing women with disabilities, compared to childrearing women without disabilities, report significantly lower health-related quality of life including poor general health (adjusted odds ratio[AOR] = 6.85; p < .001), frequent mental distress (AOR = 4.02; p < .001), and frequent poor physical health (AOR = 9.34; p < .001); higher prevalence of chronic health conditions, including arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure and cholesterol, and obesity (the range of AORs = 1.59 to 5.65; p < .001); higher prevalence of adverse health behaviors including smoking (AOR = 2.14; p < .001) and lack of exercise (AOR = 1.61; p < .001); more financial barriers to health care (AOR = 2.11; p < .001) and lack of social and emotional support (AOR = 2.05; p < .001) while controlling for age, education, income, and relationship status. Based on population level data, the study reveals that childrearing women with disabilities experience elevated risks of health disparities across many key health indicators, many of which are preventable and modifiable. These findings underscore the importance of identifying contributing factors and developing interventions to improve the health and quality of life of childrearing women with disabilities.

%B Matern Child Health J %V 17 %P 1260-8 %8 2013 Sep %G eng %N 7 %R 10.1007/s10995-012-1118-4 %0 Journal Article %J Am J Public Health %D 2013 %T Health disparities among lesbian, gay, and bisexual older adults: results from a population-based study. %A Fredriksen-Goldsen, Karen I %A Kim, Hyun-Jun %A Barkan, Susan E %A Muraco, Anna %A Hoy-Ellis, Charles P %K Bisexuality %K Chronic Disease %K Confidence Intervals %K Female %K Health Behavior %K Health Services Accessibility %K Health Status Disparities %K Health Surveys %K Homosexuality, Female %K Homosexuality, Male %K Humans %K Logistic Models %K Male %K Mass Screening %K Middle Aged %K Odds Ratio %K Washington %X

OBJECTIVES: We investigated health disparities among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults aged 50 years and older.

METHODS: We analyzed data from the 2003-2010 Washington State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (n = 96 992) on health outcomes, chronic conditions, access to care, behaviors, and screening by gender and sexual orientation with adjusted logistic regressions.

RESULTS: LGB older adults had higher risk of disability, poor mental health, smoking, and excessive drinking than did heterosexuals. Lesbians and bisexual women had higher risk of cardiovascular disease and obesity, and gay and bisexual men had higher risk of poor physical health and living alone than did heterosexuals. Lesbians reported a higher rate of excessive drinking than did bisexual women; bisexual men reported a higher rate of diabetes and a lower rate of being tested for HIV than did gay men. Conclusions. Tailored interventions are needed to address the health disparities and unique health needs of LGB older adults. Research across the life course is needed to better understand health disparities by sexual orientation and age, and to assess subgroup differences within these communities.

%B Am J Public Health %V 103 %P 1802-9 %8 2013 Oct %G eng %N 10 %R 10.2105/AJPH.2012.301110