Sociocultural Factors and Health Care-Seeking Behavior Among Black Americans

摘要

This study investigates the health care-seeking behavior of black Americans in the Detroit Metropolitan area. Analyses of 176 semistructured interviews and 27 life history profiles obtained from participants, nonparticipants, clinic coordinators, community leaders, and health care professionals at local screening clinics suggest that black Americans follow a culturally specific health care-seeking pattern, and that such behavior is significantly influenced by sociocultural factors. This information should be particularly useful for health care professionals and educators, because it can help them plan and implement special intervention strategies for the black community.