Preventive and Curative Care Utilization Among Mexican Immigrant Women in Birmingham, AL

Abstract

This study aims to describe the utilization of curative and preventive care among Mexican immigrant women in the country of origin versus the US, and to identify factors associated with preventive and curative care utilization. A cross-sectional sample of 185 Mexican immigrant women living in Birmingham, AL between 2004 and 2005 were included in this study. Fisher’s Exact tests showed that there was a statistically significant difference between seeking curative care (p < 0.0001) and preventive care (p < 0.0001) in country of origin versus the US. Differences in the reasons for lack of utilization of both curative and preventive care were also observed in the US and the country of origin. These findings suggest that difference in healthcare-seeking behaviors and utilization among Mexican immigrant women between the US and their country of origin may be useful in the development of interventions aimed at increasing the use of preventive and curative care services to this immigrant population in the US.

Sowing the Seeds of Health: Training of Community Health Advisors to Promote Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening among Latina Immigrants in Alabama

“…3 However, certain populations in the U.S. still do not fully take part in these programs due to structural and intra/interpersonal barriers. 4–11 One such sub-group includes Latina immigrants, particularly in the South/Southeast. 4,6,12…”

Comparison of Self-Rated Health Among Latina Immigrants in a Southern U.S. City and a National Sample

“…However, the community-based participatory research approach used to conduct this study, and specifically the use of lay health workers who were trusted in the community, likely increased participation by a broader segment of the Latina immigrant community (e.g., recent and undocumented Latina immigrants) than would otherwise be expected, and the sample characteristics were largely similar to those of Latina immigrants recruited through door-to-door sampling in other studies in Birmingham, as well as estimates of the foreign-born Latino population in the state. 19,42 Additionally, women attending the outreach event from which the Birmingham data were collected may be more concerned about their health than women who did not attend. This selectivity is possible, and we caution readers to consider our results in this context.…”

“…In communities without a long-standing history of migration, recently arrived immigrants with limited English language proficiency may face difficulties identifying health services and challenges seeking care from institutions that lack interpreters and little experience providing services to foreign-born groups. 16–19 Therefore, assumptions about the health profile and potential health needs that are based on national data may be inaccurate for foreign-born Latinos in Southern destinations.…”

Employment and Family Conditions Are Related to Health Care Utilization Among Foreign-Born Farmworker Men

“…Nationally, it is estimated that 22% of farmworkers are women (National Center for Farmworker Health, 2012). Farmworker women, generally young adults, are likely to seek care for maternity-related services (Hidalgo, Garcés-Palacio, & Scarinci, 2012;K. Larson, McGuire, Watkins, & Mountain, 1992).…”

“…Larson, McGuire, Watkins, & Mountain, 1992). Use of these services may be an opportunity for them to also address other, nonmaternity, health-related issues (Hidalgo et al, 2012;McGlade, Saha, & Dahlstrom, 2004). For farmworker men, however, use of health services may be even more limited to severe or urgent conditions that require immediate medical assistance (Arcury & Quandt, 2007;Villarejo, 2003).…”