Postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy use by older Mexican-American women.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of current hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use and describe its correlates among community-dwelling, Mexican-American women aged 67 and older.


METHODS
A population-based survey of older Mexican-Americans conducted in 1995/1996.


METHODS
Five Southwestern states: Texas, New Mexico, California, Arizona, and Colorado.


METHODS
An area probability sample of 1,424 noninstitutionalized Mexican-American women aged 67 and older (mean age = 75.1) completed the survey instrument via a 90-minute in-home interview, which included examination and recording of all medications taken.


METHODS
Current use of HRT.


RESULTS
In this sample of older Mexican-American women, 4.7% were current users of HRT. Controlling for sociodemographic characteristics (age, marital status, living arrangements, years of education, income, language of interview), current HRT use is significantly related to years of education (per each year) (odds ratio (OR) = 1.13; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.05-1.20), having had a hysterectomy (OR = 4.37; 95% CI 2.50-7.64), a diagnosis of osteoporosis (OR = 3.40, 95% CI = 1.58-7.33), age at menopause (per each year) (OR = 1.07; 95% CI = 1.03-1.12), ever having a mammogram (OR = 3.72; 95% CI = 1.66-8.37), ever having a Pap test/pelvic examination (OR = 2.11; 95% CI = 1.08-4.12), having spoken with a pharmacist within the past year regarding health conditions (OR = 1.96; 95% CI = 1.06-3.65), and having Medicare plus private insurance (OR = 2.13; 95% CI = 1.14-3.97).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of HRT use is lower than that reported in the older non-Hispanic white female population. In general, these findings indicate that access to and utilization of the traditional U.S. health care system are indicators of HRT use.
Newell
D A
DA
Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA.
Markides
K S
KS
Ray
L A
LA
Freeman
J L
JL
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D017698:Postmenopause; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015206:Southwestern United States