The Relationship Between Postsecondary Education and Diabetes Among African American Women Residing in Alabama
Date of Conferral
10-31-2023
Degree
Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)
School
Public Health
Advisor
Jennifer Oliphant
Abstract
Diabetes is a chronic condition that is complexly influenced by internal and external factors with patterns of increased disproportion in diagnosis among populations of color. African American women are among those who experience increased susceptibility to diabetes related complications and mortality. This condition is further exacerbated regionally within the southern United States, in states like Alabama. The fundamental causes theory was used as a theoretical foundation and guide for this study because of its concept that with improved socioeconomic status related conditions, increased access and resources contribute to improved health outcomes. In this study, the associations between educational attainment, employment, income, race, health coverage, and diabetes diagnosis were examined. A quantitative retrospective approach and binary logistic regression models were used to assess secondary data from the 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. The population of this study included 7,053 African American women from Alabama over 18 years of age or older. Study results showed a significant association between the socioeconomic related predictor values and being diagnosed with diabetes. The findings also demonstrated that race was associated with diabetes diagnosis when adjusting for education and that African American women who graduated from college were more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes in comparison to European American counterparts (p = < 0.001, α = 0.05, OR =.548). Findings from this study can contribute to positive social change by lending evidence needed for improved public health equity and opportunities to improve diabetes diagnosis and resources among African American women and communities they reside in.
Recommended Citation
Dean, Jessica, "The Relationship Between Postsecondary Education and Diabetes Among African American Women Residing in Alabama" (2023). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 15057.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/15057
