Examining the Health and Well-Being of Older Black Women in Canada

Inequities in health systematically put groups of people who are socially disadvantaged due tobeing poor, female, a particular age and/or a member of a disenfranchised racial group at furtherdisadvantage. Black people comprise 3% of Canada's population and are more likely to be exposedto risk but less likely to seek preventative care. Older Black women face further disadvantagesbecause of multiple intersecting factors related to their race, gender, and age. This dissertationpresents findings from a sequential mixed methods study conducted to understand the health, wellbeing, and aging experiences of older Black women aged 55 and older in Canada. The studydesign and data analysis were informed by two theoretical frameworks: intersectionality and thelife course perspective. First, using data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), several multilevel logistic regression models were used to establish and compare associationbetween racial identity and inequalities in hypertension, diabetes, cancer, chronic obstructivepulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, self-rated health, and self-rated mental health between Blackand White men and women aged 55 and older. Second, qualitative phenomenological interviewswere conducted simultaneously to gain a deeper understanding of the health and wellbeing of olderBlack women and factors that have influenced their health and wellbeing across their life course.These were factors that could not be deeply explored through the CCHS. Twenty-seven semistructuredinterviews were conducted with Black women aged 55 and older living in the GreaterToronto Area. Following the conclusion of the first two phases, a thematic content analysis wascompleted for eight policy documents to determine whether and how the need for adequate housingamong older Black women was addressed. These needs were identified in the semi-structuredinterviews conducted in the previous qualitative phase of the study.