Racial Disparities in Health Outcomes After Spinal Cord Injury: Mediating Effects of Education and Income

This study investigates if racial and gender differences exist in the health outcomes of people with spinal cord injuries (SCI). It also looks at whether socioeconomic factors, like education and income, can explain racial differences in health after SCI. The study found that African Americans with SCI reported poorer health, more hospitalizations, and more days in the hospital compared to white participants. These differences seemed to disappear when considering education and income levels. The researchers suggest that efforts to improve the health outcomes of African Americans with SCI should focus on addressing socioeconomic factors and ensuring access to healthcare.

• 1
  Significant racial disparities were observed, with African Americans reporting more days in poor health, more hospitalizations, and more days hospitalized compared to white participants.
• 2
  Years of education and household income mediated the relationship between race and health outcomes; these disparities disappeared after considering socioeconomic factors.
• 3
  Gender differences were less pronounced; women reported a greater number of nonroutine physician visits than men, but socioeconomic factors did not mediate this difference.