title: Health and health care disparities among homeless women.
abstract: While disparities in health and health care between vulnerable (e.g., minorities, low-income) and majority populations are well documented, less is known about disparities within these special populations that are large and diverse. Such knowledge is essential to determine the neediest within these generally needy populations, and to plan interventions to reduce their health and health care disparities. With data from 1,331 women residing in Los Angeles County California, in one of the largest, most comprehensive studies of the health of homeless women to date, this study examined the health and health care disparities among homeless African American, Latina, and white women. This study further explored if race/ethnicity and other factors that predispose homeless women to poor health, or enable them to obtain better health care, were associated with their unmet need for medical care. The study found that white, non-Latina women were more likely to report unmet need than African Americans and Latinas, and women suffering from drug abuse, violence, or depression were most in need of care. These findings should be considered in targeting and addressing the special needs of homeless women of different racial/ethnic groups.
authors.affiliation: Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90025, USA. cteruya@ucla.edu
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Teruya
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Longshore
authors.forename: Ronald M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arangua
authors.forename: Adeline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nyamathi
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Leake
authors.forename: Lillian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gelberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002140:California; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000208:ethnology*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D011203:Poverty; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000208:ethnology*; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001741:Black or African American