Prostate Cancer: Social, Economic and Demographic Correlates of Non Use of Supplemental Diets among Black Men in Florida

Authors

Jemal Gishe, Tennessee State UniversityFollow
Getachew Dagne, University of South FloridaFollow
MOHAMED KANU, Tennessee State UniversityFollow
Kushal Patel, Tennessee State UniversityFollow
REVLON BRIGGS, Tennessee State UniversityFollow
Folakemi Odedina, University of FloridaFollow
Francis Pleban, Tennessee State UniversityFollow

Keywords

Prostate Cancer, Supplemental Diets, U.S. born, African Origin, Caribbean Origin, Zero-inflated Models

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract

Background: Epidemiologic data consistently show that Black men in the U.S. are disproportionately affected by prostate cancer. The incidence rate is 60% higher and death rate is 2.1 times more for Black men compared to Whites. There is growing evidence from literature that nutritional supplements, such as selenium, lycopene, vitamin A, vitamin D and soy may reduce the risk of prostate cancer. However, the level of knowledge and usage of these supplemental diets among Black men is low. Therefore, it is important to understand why Black men are low users of the supplemental diets and develop intervention programs to change the underlining conditions.

Objectives: Data collected in the state of Florida on prostate cancer disparities show that large proportion of Black men living in the state are nonusers of the supplemental diets. The purpose of this study is to identify socio-economic characteristics of U.S. born and foreign born Black men who are nonusers of the supplemental diets.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on prostate cancer disparity among Black men in five major cities in the State of Florida. Three thousand four hundred and ten valid respondents were included in the analysis. The main outcomes were socio-economic status, access to health care and awareness among Black men in relation to the use of supplemental diets that reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Descriptive statistics and zero-inflated regression models were used for data analysis.

Results: The odds of nonuse of the supplemental diets were the highest for African born (Vitamin A OR = 2.32, P-value = 0.0060), for those who pray or do nothing when sick (Vitamin A OR = 2.84, P-value = 0.0367), with no insurance (Selenium OR = 1.32, P-value = 0.0007), and with no regular doctor to visit for medical care (Vitamin A OR = 1.29, P-value = 0.0318).

Conclusion: The study data indicates that the usage of supplemental diets among Black men in Florida is very low. The study further provides rich data with regard to demographic characteristics for U.S. born and foreign born Black men that might serve to inform the usage of supplemental diets that may reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

Recommended Citation

Gishe, Jemal; Dagne, Getachew; KANU, MOHAMED; Patel, Kushal; BRIGGS, REVLON; Odedina, Folakemi; and Pleban, Francis (2021) "Prostate Cancer: Social, Economic and Demographic Correlates of Non Use of Supplemental Diets among Black Men in Florida," Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice: Vol. 14: Iss. 2, Article 6.
Available at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/jhdrp/vol14/iss2/6