Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 16, Issue 4, 2014, Pages 706-711

Fear of deportation is not associated with medical or dental care use among Mexican-origin farmworkers served by a federally-qualified health center - Faith-based partnership: An exploratory study (Article)

López-Cevallos D.F.* , Lee J. , Donlan W.
  • a Center for Latino/a Studies and Engagement, Oregon State University, 225 Waldo Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States, Ethnic Studies, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States, International Health Program, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States
  • b Regional Research Institute for Human Services, School of Social Work, Portland State University, Portland, OR 97207, United States
  • c School of Social Work, Portland State University, Portland, OR 97207, United States

Abstract

Migrant and seasonal farmworkers face many health risks with limited access to health care and promotion services. This study explored whether fear of deportation (as a barrier), and church attendance (as an enabling factor), were associated with medical and dental care use among Mexican-origin farmworkers. Interviews were conducted with 179 farmworkers who attended mobile services provided by a local federally-qualified health center (FQHC) in partnership with area churches, during the 2007 agricultural season. The majority of respondents (87 %) were afraid of being deported, and many (74 %) attended church. Although about half of participants reported poor/fair physical (49 %) and dental (58 %) health, only 37 % of farmworkers used medical care and 20 % used dental care during the previous year. Fear of deportation was not associated with use of medical or dental care; while church attendance was associated with use of dental care. Findings suggest that despite high prevalence of fear of deportation, support by FQHCs and churches may enable farmworkers to access health care services. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Health care use Health centers Church attendance Fear of deportation Faith-based organizations Farmworkers

Index Keywords

Community Health Services community care agricultural worker human Farmers Mexico Dental Health Services dental procedure ethnology Cross-Sectional Studies interview United States cross-sectional study Humans psychology Interviews as Topic male female adult migration utilization patient attitude Patient Acceptance of Health Care Transients and Migrants Fear Health Services Accessibility health care delivery
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84904396024&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-013-9845-1&partnerID=40&md5=ed633866bdfbf7b1250253251e67ce6e
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-013-9845-1
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 12
Original Language: English