THE ASSOCIATION OF NEAR POVERTY STATUS WITH CANCER INCIDENCE AMONG BLACK-AND-WHITE ADULTS

This cumulative incidence study was accomplished among adults in Upsta te New York metropolitan areas (Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Alban y--1979-1986). It used a new ecological socioeconomic status measure-n ear poverty status (i.e., below 200% of the federally established pove rty criterion, including the poor and near poor)-and observed its asso ciation with site-specific cancer incidence (lung, stomach, cervix ute ri, prostate, colon, rectum and breast). Findings were: 1) near povert y status is directly associated with each cancer site's incidence and the strength of the associations are similar among blacks and whites f or each one and 2) the prevalence of exposure, of living in high near impoverishment areas, is nearly seven-fold greater among blacks; preva lence ratio [PR] = 6.74 (95% confidence interval [CI]:5.07,8.99).