Medical Care
Volume 44, Issue 10, 2006, Pages 914-920

Immigrant perceptions of discrimination in health care: The California health interview survey 2003 (Review)

Lauderdale D.S.* , Wen M. , Jacobs E.A. , Kandula N.R.
  • a Department of Health Studies, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States, Department of Health Studies, University of Chicago, MC 2007, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., Chicago, IL 60637, United States
  • b Department of Sociology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
  • c Medical Center, Rush University, John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL, United States
  • d Medical Center, Rush University, John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL, United States, Division of General Internal Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States

Abstract

Background: U.S. healthcare disparities may be in part the result of differential experiences of discrimination in health care. Previous research about discrimination has focused on race/ethnicity. Because immigrants are clustered in certain racial and ethnic groups, failure to consider immigration status could distort race/ethnicity effects. Objectives: We examined whether foreign-born persons are more likely to report discrimination in healthcare than U.S.-born persons in the same race/ethnic group, whether the immigration effect varies by race/ethnicity, and whether the immigration effect is "explained" by sociodemographic factors. Research Design: The authors conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the 2003 California Health Interview Survey consisting of 42,044 adult respondents. Logistic regression models use replicate weights to adjust for nonresponse and complex survey design. Outcome Measure: The outcome measure of this study was respondent reports that there was a time when they would have gotten better medical care if they had belonged to a different race or ethnic group. Results: Seven percent of blacks and Latinos and 4% of Asians reported healthcare discrimination within the past 5 years. Immigrants were more likely to report discrimination than U.S.-born persons adjusting for race/ethnicity. For Asians, only the foreign-born were more likely than whites to report discrimination. For Latinos, increased perceptions of discrimination were attributable to sociodemographic factors for the U.S.-born but not for the foreign-born. Speaking a language other than English at home increased discrimination reports regardless of birthplace; private insurance was protective for the U.S.-born only. Conclusions: Immigration status should be included in studies of healthcare disparities because nativity is a key determinant of discrimination experiences for Asians and Latinos. Copyright © 2006 by Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Author Keywords

discrimination immigrants health disparities

Index Keywords

social psychology human middle aged Cross-Sectional Studies interview United States cross-sectional study Humans attitude California male female Review adult migration Prejudice Interviews Emigration and Immigration Delivery of Health Care health care delivery

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-33749036559&doi=10.1097%2f01.mlr.0000220829.87073.f7&partnerID=40&md5=cb226a9d3b945240b078388e7ffd9bd0

DOI: 10.1097/01.mlr.0000220829.87073.f7
ISSN: 00257079
Cited by: 78
Original Language: English