Compared with non-Latino Whites, Latino immigrants have a lower prevalence of depression. However, they are also less likely to seek professional mental health services. Our objective was to compare and contrast perceptions of depression and access to mental health care among four of the largest Latino immigrant subgroups in Florida (Puerto Rican, Cuban, Mexican, and Colombian). We conducted a total of 120 interviews (30 men and women from each subgroup). Thematic analysis of qualitative data revealed that participants across the four groups were aware of the signs and symptoms of depression and had similar perceptions of depression. However, notable differences by subgroup emerged with regard to perceptions of access to mental health care. We suggest that the variation stems from differences in life experiences and the immigration context. Understanding the variances and nuances of Latino immigrants' cultural construction of depression and immigration experience will enable practitioners to better serve this community.
Latino farmworkers carry a disproportionate burden of type 2 diabetes and face numerous challenges to accessing health care. This research explores beliefs about disease causality, self-management practices, and barriers to diabetes care among diabetics in a Mexican farmworking community in Florida. Thirty semi-structured interviews were conducted utilizing free list elicitation, open-ended questions, and closed-ended demographic questions. Participants' most recent hemoglobin A1C blood test results and Body Mass Index were obtained. Most participants were knowledgeable about recommended behavioral modifications and attempted to incorporate them into their daily routine, yet the majority had poor A1C levels and were overweight. Participants held dual cultural belief models about diabetes and used various complementary and alternative medicines to account for the political and economic barriers to diabetes management. Barriers to self-management include high cost of glucometer test strips and difficulty adhering to a diabetic diet. Addressing barriers to care, such as limited income and high cost of diabetic supplies, is integral to improving diabetes self-management and health outcomes. Anthropologically informed research, such as this study, is particularly well-positioned to make visible how social and healthcare policies are embodied.
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