Abstract
This study presents a dynamic approach to collecting income information. We conducted a cross- sectional survey of 2,022 residents of historically underserved Appalachian Kentucky, an ideal location due to pervasive low income and our ability to control for potential confounders such as race/ethnicity and residential heterogeneity. In unadjusted analyses, nearly half of the sample indicated they struggled to meet their needs; 43% said they made just enough to get by; and 10% indicated they had more than they needed to live well. Adjusting for socio- demographic characteristics, proportionately more of those with lower self- rated health and a higher number of morbidities reported struggling to make ends meet. Less than 1% refused to respond to the question on self- perceived income sufficiency, compared with 20% who refused to report income levels. We conclude that self- perceived income sufficiency is a useful question to assess resources, both theoretically and practically, in an underserved population.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 812-828 |
Number of pages | 17 |
Journal | Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved |
Volume | 28 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 2017 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© Meharry Medical College.
Keywords
- Assessment
- Health inequity population
- Income
- Income adequacy
- Self- perceived income sufficiency
- Selfrated health
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health