Impact of Residential Segregation on Healthcare Utilization and Perceived Quality of Care Among Informal Caregivers in the United States

Dados Bibliográficos

ID2073333
AutoresHyunmin Kim (0000-0001-7005-2568, University of Southern Mississippi, autor correspondente), Azhar Mahmood (0000-0002-2680-9110), Satish K Kedia (0000-0002-7114-5843, University of Memphis), Deborah Ogunsanmi (0009-0008-5129-1051, University of Tennessee Health Science Center), Sadikshya Sharma (0000-0002-5238-2990, University of Southern Mississippi), David K Wyant (Belmont University)
Ano2025
Volume12
Fascículo3
Páginas1887-1899
Data de publicação2025-06-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoJournal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 2196-8837 • E-ISSN: 2197-3792
EditoraSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s40615-024-02018-9
PMID38758399
OpenAlexW4397023172
IdiomaEN
Referências citadas66

This study aimed to investigate the impact of racial residential segregation on healthcare utilization and perceived quality of care among informal caregivers in the US. It further assessed potential variations in the estimated impact across caregivers' race and socioeconomic status. We used data from the Health Information National Trends Survey Data Linkage Project (fielded in 2020) for a sample of 583 self-identified informal caregivers in the US. Fitting a series of regression models with the maximum likelihood estimation, we computed the beta coefficients (β) of interest and their associated Wald 95% confidence limits (CI). Caregivers who resided in areas with higher segregation, compared to those living in lower segregated areas, were less likely to visit a healthcare professional [β = − 2.08; Wald 95%CI − 2.093, − 2.067] (moderate); [β = − 2.53; Wald 95%CI − 2.549, − 2.523] (high)]. Further, caregivers residing in moderate [β = − 0.766; Wald 95%CI − 0.770, − 0.761] and high [β = − 0.936; Wald 95%CI − 0.941, − 0.932] segregation regions were less likely to perceive a better quality of care compared to those located in low segregation areas. Moreover, as segregation level increased, Black caregivers were less likely to see a health professional, less frequently used healthcare services, and had poorer perceived healthcare quality when compared to Whites. Our findings indicate that higher residential segregation is associated with lower healthcare utilization, such as visiting a healthcare professional, and poorer perceived healthcare quality among informal caregivers. Given the essential role of informal caregivers in the current healthcare system, it is vital to investigate and address challenges associated with access to and quality of essential healthcare services to improve caregivers' health and well-being, specifically for caregivers of minority backgrounds

Environmental health · Generalized estimating equation · Health care · Population · Quality (philosophy · Socioeconomic status · Sociology · Wald test · Demography · Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes · Health disparities and outcomes · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving · Medicine · Psychology · Gerontology