Ethnic differences in past hysterectomy for benign conditions.
BACKGROUND
Hysterectomy for a benign condition is common, particularly in the underserved. The objective was to determine if ethnic differences could be explained by known risk factors.


METHODS
A phone survey was conducted at random on 15,160 women, ages 40-55, from seven US cities. Subjects were 49.9% Caucasian, 28.1% African American, 12.3% Hispanic, and 9.8% Asian American.


RESULTS
Ethnicity was associated with past hysterectomy (odds ratio [OR]: Caucasian = 1.0, African American = 1.66; confidence interval [CI] = 1.46-1.88, Hispanic = 1.64, CI = 1.29-2.07; Asian American = 0.44, CI = 0.34-0.56), after adjustment for age, education, fibroids, body mass index, marital status, smoking, geographic site, and country of education.


CONCLUSIONS
Because the highest rates occurred in the disadvantaged African American and Hispanic subgroups, and could not be explained by known risk factors, disparity in the form of overuse in these disadvantaged groups may exist.
Powell
Lynda H
LH
Department of Preventive Medicine, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
Meyer
Peter
P
Weiss
Gerson
G
Matthews
Karen A
KA
Santoro
Nanette
N
Randolph
John F
JF
Schocken
Miriam
M
Skurnick
Joan
J
Ory
Marcia G
MG
Sutton-Tyrrell
Kim
K
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001213:Asian / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006300:Health Services Misuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008593:Menopause / Q000208:ethnology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000601:surgery*; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000208:ethnology*; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016387:Women's Health / Q000208:ethnology