Document Type

Capstone Experience

Graduation Date

12-2023

Degree Name

Master of Public Health

Department

Epidemiology

First Committee Member

Nicole Kolm Valdivia

Second Committee Member

Patrick Maloney

Third Committee Member

Anthony Blake

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether racial/ethnic minorities have reduced access to preventive healthcare services in the United States, with participation in routine checkups serving as the metric for access. Methods: Performing logistic regression analysis comparing the length of time since the last routine checkup between different racial/ethnic groups in the study population. Those who haven’t had a routine checkup in at least 12 months served as the comparison group. Results: Black populations were 66% less likely to not have access to preventive care compared to White populations, while Asian, American Indian/Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander populations were 8.5% more likely compared to White populations, and Hispanic populations showed no significant results. Conclusions: The results from this study showed that racial/ethnic minorities, excluding Black and Hispanic populations, were significantly less likely to have access to the preventive service being assessed compared to White populations. Future research on barriers to access to preventive care for racial/ethnic minorities should evaluate more comprehensive indicators of preventive health. However, these results will guide health professionals and lawmakers in targeting specific demographics with interventions and policies.

Download

Included in

Public Health Commons

Share

COinS