OBJECTIVES. The purpose of this study was to identify the role of race in seeking and receipt of care for symptoms of coronary heart disease. METHODS. Data on medical care, sociodemographic characteristics, symptoms, risk factors, income, and insurance were collected in a telephone interview for a random sample of 2030 Black and White adults in inner-city Boston. Rates of care-seeking for symptoms, amounts of delay in seeking care, and rates of receipt of care were compared for Blacks and Whites after adjustment for other characteristics. RESULTS. Before and after adjustment for other factors, Blacks and Whites were equally likely to seek care. Average delay time was shorter for Blacks, particularly Black women. With the exception of a lower rate of referral to cardiologists among Blacks, receipt of care was similar for Blacks and Whites who sought medical attention for symptoms. CONCLUSIONS. In an urban population of Blacks and Whites who were similar in socioeconomic status and access to medical care, there were few racial differences in coronary heart disease-related care patterns.

OBJECTIVES. Latino adolescents in two urban New England areas were surveyed to assess risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. METHODS. Probability of HIV infection during the previous 6 months was estimated from self-reported sexual contacts, condom usage rates, and number of partners. Teens were also asked to show condoms in their possession to the interviewer to validate self-reports of condom use. RESULTS. Overall, 8% of the 586 respondents were classified as high risk for HIV infection (estimated infection probability greater than .0001), 34% were at moderate risk, and the remaining 58% were classified as not at risk (no sexual activity or needle sharing). Teens who said they had purchased condoms or claimed to have used them recently were more likely than others to have condoms in their possession at the time of the interview. CONCLUSIONS. These estimates suggest that a small percentage of Latino adolescents may be at substantial risk for HIV infection over periods as short as 6 months, that self-reports of recent condom use are strongly related to condom possession, and that questionnaire items regarding condom use at last intercourse are poor surrogates for HIV risk.