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Identification of racial disparities in breast cancer mortality: does scale matter?
- Source :
-
International journal of health geographics [Int J Health Geogr] 2010 Jul 05; Vol. 9, pp. 35. Date of Electronic Publication: 2010 Jul 05. - Publication Year :
- 2010
-
Abstract
- Background: This paper investigates the impact of geographic scale (census tract, zip code, and county) on the detection of disparities in breast cancer mortality among three ethnic groups in Texas (period 1995-2005). Racial disparities were quantified using both relative (RR) and absolute (RD) statistics that account for the population size and correct for unreliable rates typically observed for minority groups and smaller geographic units. Results were then correlated with socio-economic status measured by the percentage of habitants living below the poverty level.<br />Results: African-American and Hispanic women generally experience higher mortality than White non-Hispanics, and these differences are especially significant in the southeast metropolitan areas and southwest border of Texas. The proportion and location of significant racial disparities however changed depending on the type of statistic (RR versus RD) and the geographic level. The largest proportion of significant results was observed for the RD statistic and census tract data. Geographic regions with significant racial disparities for African-Americans and Hispanics frequently had a poverty rate above 10.00%.<br />Conclusions: This study investigates both relative and absolute racial disparities in breast cancer mortality between White non-Hispanic and African-American/Hispanic women at the census tract, zip code and county levels. Analysis at the census tract level generally led to a larger proportion of geographical units experiencing significantly higher mortality rates for minority groups, although results varied depending on the use of the relative versus absolute statistics. Additional research is needed before general conclusions can be formulated regarding the choice of optimal geographic regions for the detection of racial disparities.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Black or African American statistics & numerical data
Age Distribution
Aged
Censuses
Confidence Intervals
Cross-Sectional Studies
Databases, Factual
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Hispanic or Latino statistics & numerical data
Humans
Incidence
Logistic Models
Middle Aged
Odds Ratio
Risk Assessment
Socioeconomic Factors
Survival Analysis
Texas
White People statistics & numerical data
Breast Neoplasms ethnology
Breast Neoplasms mortality
Cause of Death
Health Status Disparities
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1476-072X
- Volume :
- 9
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- International journal of health geographics
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 20602784
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-072X-9-35