Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 12, Issue 4, 2010, Pages 496-505

Accessing primary care: HIV+ Caribbean immigrants in the Bronx (Article)

Pivnick A.* , Jacobson A. , Blank A.E. , Villegas M.
  • a Women's Center, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States, 3 West 87th Street, New York, NY 10024, United States
  • b Department of Health Studies, Touro College, New York, NY, United States
  • c Department of Family Medicine and Social Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
  • d Women's Center, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States

Abstract

This article describes an ecology of health seeking behavior among Bronx residing HIV+ Caribbean immigrants participating in an arm of a U.S. government-funded multi-site evaluation of peer services in the utilization of HIV primary care. Standardized repeat measures were administered at baseline and three four-month intervals. Clinical markers were obtained through medical chart review. Additionally, local data included ethnographic interviews, focus groups, and progress notes. Clinical outcomes were positive for the 55 subjects, 23 of whom were undocumented. Alienation from family, women's vulnerability to family violence, and difficulties with disclosure, employment, and health care were compounded by undocumented immigration status. Retention was encouraged by the community based site, high levels of peer interaction, and supportive services. Without consideration of broader contexts, peer driven interventions are potentially limited and the realities of immigrant health care are misunderstood through lack of recognition of competing needs. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

Author Keywords

HIV/AIDS Caribbean immigrants Health seeking Undocumented

Index Keywords

information processing HIV Infections Human immunodeficiency virus infection human middle aged Central America ethnology interview United States Humans Interviews as Topic male Emigrants and Immigrants female Caribbean Region Article adult migration New York City patient attitude Patient Acceptance of Health Care Focus Groups Health Services Accessibility primary health care health care delivery
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-77955981128&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-009-9293-0&partnerID=40&md5=dfb26be0a20d4add2461f7e6ff07e8d9
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-009-9293-0
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 7
Original Language: English