Public health matters. Self-care among chronically ill African-Americans: culture, health disparities, and health insurance status.

• Autores: G Becker, RJ Gates, E Newsom
• Localización: American journal of public health, ISSN 0090-0036, Vol. 94, Nº. 12, 2004, págs. 2066-2073
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • 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.