The Effects of Years Lived in the United States on the General Health Status of California’s Foreign-Born Populations

2006 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathew Cory Uretsky ◽  
Sally G. Mathiesen
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Health Status ◽  
General Health ◽  
The United States ◽  
Foreign Born ◽  
General Health Status

scholarly journals Health Status of Adults with Hearing Loss in the United States

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-111
Author(s):  
Jennifer Glassman ◽  
Timothy Jordan ◽  
Jiunn-Jye Sheu ◽  
Lori Pakulski ◽  
Amy Thompson
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Heart Disease ◽  
Health Status ◽  
The United States ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Lifestyle Behaviors ◽  
General Health Status ◽  
Disease States ◽  
Screening Behaviors

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the current health status of adults in the United States with self-reported hearing loss and compare it with US adults with a self-reported excellent or good hearing in three areas: (1) chronic disease states and general health status, (2) medical screening behaviors, and (3) lifestyle behaviors. Methods: A secondary data analysis was conducted using the 2014 data set from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), specifically the Sample Adult Public Use File (samadult). For this questionnaire set, one adult per family was randomly selected. This individual self-reported their response to the questionnaire items. Binary regressions were used to analyze the odds ratio to find differences for selected disease states, screenings, and lifestyle behaviors. Respondents were grouped into one of four categories: excellent/good hearing, a little trouble hearing, moderate/a lot of trouble hearing, and deaf. Results: The excellent/good hearing group was used as the comparison group for the other three levels of hearing. There are many differences in likelihood to self-report disease states; the greatest increased likelihoods include tinnitus and heart disease, with tinnitus being 8.6 times more likely for those who identified as having moderate/a lot of hearing loss. Those with any level of hearing loss were 3 to 5 times more likely to self-report heart disease. Regarding lifestyle factors, individuals with any level of hearing loss were less likely to consume alcohol and 2.5 to 9 times more likely to be unable to engage in moderate or vigorous activity on a weekly basis, respectively. Conclusions: There is a difference in the health status of individuals with hearing loss across all three areas examined (chronic disease states and general health status, medical screening behaviors, and lifestyle behaviors), and those differences vary based on level of hearing loss, the most notable being the self-reported inability to engage in moderate and vigorous physical activity. Disproportionate rates of tinnitus and heart disease were evident in all levels of hearing loss but most notable in those identifying as having moderate/a lot of trouble hearing. Further interdisciplinary research is necessary to improve the health of individuals with all levels of hearing loss, increase awareness of the hearing/health connection, and decrease hearing loss in general.

Analysis of Health Conditions Based on a National Health Information Trends Survey: Implications from Internet and Transport Access (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qinglin Hu ◽  
Xiaobing Li ◽  
Abbey Gregg
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Health Information ◽  
General Health ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
The United States ◽  
Access Barriers ◽  
General Health Status ◽  
South Central ◽  
Access To Health

BACKGROUND Internet access to health information & transportation to health care services are two very important ways to promote health and ameliorate health disparities. Despite the general widespread availability of transportation and Internet, disparities still exist among specific groups, particularly among traditionally undeserved (rural/remote) and minority populations. A better understanding of the spatial patterns of transportation and Internet access, along with their relationship to people’s general health status, may help improve our current health care system and programs. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to explore the spatial distribution of people who have difficulties with transportation to health care and Internet access. We also examined the relationship between self-reported health status and transportation and Internet access barriers. METHODS We used data from the 2018 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS), a nationally representative sample of US households, to examine the association between transportation and Internet access with individual’s general health status. A geographic information map was generated to examine the geographic variation of both transportation to health care and Internet access barriers in the United States. RESULTS Individuals with limited transportation to health care and Internet access are associated with a lower level of health status, and Internet access seems to have a larger influence on general health status. Similarly, people who lived in a rural area were more likely to associate with fair or poor health status compared to those who lived in urban area. Respondents who were without health care insurance coverage were less likely to have an excellent or very good health status. Women tended to have better general health status then men, which is consistent with previous studies. In addition, people who had employment, higher education, higher income, and are of White race are more likely to have a higher level of general health status. Geographically, the East South Central and East North Central Divisions tended to have the lowest level of Internet and transportation access to health care, especially the states of Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama. CONCLUSIONS This analysis showed the mixed effects of transportation and Internet access on individual’s’ general health status. Both of the barriers are significant factors for people with health issues, and access disparities exist at the state level and between urban and non-urban areas. Additional work and policy is needed to ensure that Internet and transportation resources and services are prioritized for undeserved populations and areas.

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