Community participatory research with deaf sign language users to identify health inequities

Am J Public Health. 2011 Dec;101(12):2235-8. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2011.300247. Epub 2011 Oct 20.

Abstract

Deaf people who use American Sign Language (ASL) are medically underserved and often excluded from health research and surveillance. We used a community participatory approach to develop and administer an ASL-accessible health survey. We identified deaf community strengths (e.g., a low prevalence of current smokers) and 3 glaring health inequities: obesity, partner violence, and suicide. This collaborative work represents the first time a deaf community has used its own data to identify health priorities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Communication Barriers*
  • Community Participation*
  • Data Collection
  • Domestic Violence
  • Female
  • Health Surveys*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • New York / epidemiology
  • Obesity / epidemiology
  • Persons With Hearing Impairments* / statistics & numerical data
  • Sign Language*
  • Smoking / epidemiology
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Suicide / statistics & numerical data
  • Young Adult