Social Determinants of Preventive Service Utilization

Abstract

Utilization of preventive services may be influenced by social factors, such as religion, that can create barriers or facilitate use. The purpose of this study is to determine how religious beliefs and activities affect the use of cholesterol screenings. Specifically, data from the Health and Retirement Survey (HRS) are used to examine the influence of religious attendance, salience, and affiliation on cholesterol screenings among older adults. The findings show that adults who attend religious services more frequently and those belonging to mainline Protestant denominations report more screenings. In contrast, utilization levels do not vary by level of religious salience, after controlling for demographic and socioeconomic factors. The current study is valuable because it identifies significant relationships between religion and cholesterol screening utilization and also adds an important dimension to the burgeoning religion and health literature.