Self-Care Among Chronically Ill African Americans

Culture, Health Disparities, and Health Insurance Status

Bibliographic Data

ID11032069
AuthorsGay Becker (The authors are with the Institute for Health and Aging, University of California, San Francisco.), Rahima Jan Gates (The authors are with the Institute for Health and Aging, University of California, San Francisco.), Edwina Newsom (The authors are with the Institute for Health and Aging, University of California, San Francisco.)
Year2004
Volume94
Issue12
Pages2066-2073
Publication date2004-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-0036 • E-ISSN: 1541-0048
PublisherAmerican Public Health Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2105/ajph.94.12.2066
PMID15569953
OpenAlexW2168923755
LanguageEN
Citations received25
References cited30

Little is known about the self-care practices of chronically ill African Americans or how lack of access to health care affects self-care. Results from a qualitative interview study of 167 African Americans who had one or more chronic illnesses found that self-care practices were culturally based, and the insured reported more extensive programs of self-care. Those who had some form of health insurance much more frequently reported the influence of physicians and health education programs in self-care regimens than did those who were uninsured. It is concluded that the cultural components of self-care have been underemphasized, and further, that the potential to maximize chronic illness management through self-care strategies is not realized for those who lack access to health care

Family medicine · Health care · Health insurance · Qualitative research · Self care · Sociology · Community Health and Development · Diabetes Management and Education · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Medicine · Gerontology

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