Beware of Unawareness: Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Awareness of Chronic Diseases

52 Pages Posted: 6 Dec 2010 Last revised: 20 Apr 2023

See all articles by Pinka Chatterji

Pinka Chatterji

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER); State University of New York (SUNY) - Department of Economics

Heesoo Joo

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Kajal Lahiri

State University of New York (SUNY) at Albany

Date Written: December 2010

Abstract

This paper studies racial/ethnic disparities in awareness of chronic diseases using biomarker data from the 2006 HRS. We estimate a 3-step sequential probit model which accounts for selection into: (1) participating in biomarker collection; (2) having illness (hypertension or diabetes); (3) being aware of illness. Contrary to studies reporting that African-Americans are more aware of having hypertension than non-Latino whites, we do not find this conclusion holds after self-selection and severity are considered. Likewise, African-Americans and Latinos are less aware of having diabetes compared to non-Latino whites. Disparities in unawareness are exacerbated when we limit the sample to untreated respondents.

Suggested Citation

Chatterji, Pinka and Joo, Heesoo and Lahiri, Kajal, Beware of Unawareness: Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Awareness of Chronic Diseases (December 2010). NBER Working Paper No. w16578, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1719938

Pinka Chatterji (Contact Author)

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) ( email )

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

State University of New York (SUNY) - Department of Economics ( email )

Heesoo Joo

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

No Address Available

Kajal Lahiri

State University of New York (SUNY) at Albany ( email )

Department of Economics
1400 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12222
United States
518-442 4758 (Phone)
518-442 4736 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.albany.edu/~klahiri

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