Table 2.
Distribution of Variables and Unadjusted Odds of Perceived Unmet Need for Medical Care by Predisposing, Enabling, and Need Variables in a Random Sample of 974 Homeless Women
| %* | Odds Ratio* | 95% Confidence Interval | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reported unmet need for medical care (past 60 days) | 37 | ||
| Predisposing variables | |||
| Race | |||
| White (reference) | 16 | 1.00 | |
| Black | 55 | 0.66 | 0.46 to 0.95† |
| Hispanic | 14 | 0.85 | 0.53 to 1.37 |
| Other | 14 | 1.60 | 1.01 to 2.54† |
| Age | |||
| 18 to 24 years (reference) | 18 | 1.00 | |
| 25 to 34 years | 35 | 1.38 | 0.93 to 2.06 |
| 35 to 44 years | 47 | 1.53 | 1.05 to 2.24† |
| Education | |||
| 0 to 12 years (reference) | 73 | 1.00 | |
| ≥ 13 years | 27 | 2.10 | 1.57 to 2.80‡ |
| Mental health/substance abuse | |||
| At risk for psychological distress based on MHI§ | 49 | 1.72 | 1.32 to 2.23‡ |
| Depressive disorder 12 months | 49 | 1.59 | 1.22 to 2.07‡ |
| Lifetime history of alcohol abuse | 40 | 1.62 | 1.24 to 2.12‡ |
| Lifetime history of drug abuse | 48 | 1.70 | 1.30 to 2.21‡ |
| Homeless history | |||
| Homeless 1 year or more | 25 | 0.52 | 0.38 to 0.72‡ |
| Usual place of stay past 60 days | |||
| Shelter (reference) | 61 | 1.00 | |
| Limited housing | 7 | 3.72 | 2.15 to 6.43‡ |
| Street | 12 | 1.08 | 0.70 to 1.66 |
| Exit housing | 21 | 1.08 | 0.77 to 1.50 |
| Victim of violence | |||
| Raped at least once in past 12 months | 13 | 2.09 | 1.42 to 3.08‡ |
| Physically assaulted at least once in past 12 months | 34 | 1.85 | 1.41 to 2.43‡ |
| Enabling variables | |||
| Regular source of health care | 61 | 0.39 | 0.30 to 0.52‡ |
| Any insurance | 54 | 0.82 | 0.63 to 1.07 |
| Any encouragement | 43 | 1.66 | 1.27 to 2.16‡ |
| Case manager | 56 | 0.78 | 0.60 to 1.01// |
| Any children with her | 42 | 1.31 | 1.00 to 1.70† |
| Income (past 30 days mean) and log of income used for OR | ($422) | 1.06 | 1.00 to 1.13† |
| Need variables | |||
| At least 3 of 11 serious physical health symptoms past 12 months | 39 | 2.61 | 1.99 to 3.41‡ |
| Self-reported health status | |||
| Good/very good/excellent (reference) | 61 | 1.00 | |
| Fair/poor | 39 | 2.67 | 2.04 to 3.50‡ |
| Physical Function Index (Mean)¶ | (1.8) | 1.16 | 1.09 to 1.23‡ |
*
Percent and unadjusted odds ratios weighted by sampling weights.
§
RAND Mental Health Index (MHI-5). A 5-item scale; scores less than 66 suggest high risk for mental health problems.
¶
Physical Function Index, set of 6 practical health-related questions to determine level of disability.
//
.10
†
.05
‡
.001.