A recent study conducted by ingxuan Zhao, M.P.H., from the American Cancer Society in Atlanta, along with colleagues, delved into the correlation between a history of incarceration and access to health care in the United States. The analysis involved 7,963 participants, out of which 586 had a history of incarceration, from the 2008 to 2018 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 cohort.
Findings of the study revealed that individuals with a history of incarceration showed lower rates of having a regular source of care and receiving preventive services in comparison to those without such a history. The statistics indicated that individuals with an incarceration history had lower percentages of undergoing physical examinations (69.6% versus 74.1%), blood pressure tests (85.6% versus 91.6%), blood cholesterol level tests (59.5% versus 72.2%), blood glucose level tests (61.4% versus 69.4%), dental check-ups (51.1% versus 66.0%), as well as breast (55.0% versus 68.2%) and colorectal cancer screenings (65.6% versus 70.3%).
Upon further adjustment for factors like educational attainment and health insurance coverage, the associations between a history of incarceration and access to health care were somewhat diminished for most measures. However, they still remained statistically significant for aspects such as having a regular source of care, blood cholesterol level testing, and dental check-ups.
The researchers suggest that enhancing access to education and health insurance coverage for individuals with a history of incarceration could potentially alleviate the disparities in healthcare. By addressing these issues, it is possible to bridge the gap in healthcare access for this demographic, ensuring better health outcomes and overall well-being.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
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