Health, Homelessness, and Poverty
- 1 November 1990
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Medical Association (AMA) in Archives of Internal Medicine
- Vol. 150 (11), 2325-2330
- https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.1990.00390220069014
Abstract
• When seeking medical care, homeless persons often turn to health centers that were designed to treat the poor who have homes. To provide for effective medical care, personnel in such facilities need to know how the health care needs of the homeless are different from those of other clinic users. To compare the physical health of these two groups, we conducted a health survey and screening physical examination of 464 patients who attended the general adult and homeless clinic sessions of one of the main neighborhood health centers in Los Angeles County, California. As compared with the poor who have homes, homeless persons were more likely to have dermatological problems (32% vs 21%), functional limitation (median, 2 vs 0 per person), seizures (14% vs 6%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (21% vs 12%), social isolation, serious vision problems (22% vs 12%), foot pain, and grossly decayed teeth (median, 1 vs 0 per person). We conclude that to care more optimally for homeless adults, health centers must pay attention to their functional disabilities, substance abuse, skin abnormalities, vision impairment, dental problems, and foot problems. (Arch Intern Med. 1990;150:2325-2330)Keywords
This publication has 8 references indexed in Scilit:
- Psychological Distress among Homeless AdultsThe Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 1989
- The Prevalence of Specific Psychiatric Disorders Among Homeless Individuals in the Inner City of Los AngelesArchives of General Psychiatry, 1988
- Why does family homelessness occur? A case-control study.American Journal of Public Health, 1988
- Dental health of homeless adultsSpecial Care in Dentistry, 1988
- Health status and access to health services among the urban homeless.American Journal of Public Health, 1986
- Mental health and social characteristics of the homeless: a survey of mission users.American Journal of Public Health, 1986
- Effects of Cost Sharing on Seeking Care for Serious and Minor SymptomsAnnals of Internal Medicine, 1986
- New standards of weight and body composition by frame size and height for assessment of nutritional status of adults and the elderlyThe American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1984