Barriers to health care and use of cultural alternatives are studied from open-ended interviews of 96 Latino immigrants, 12 hometown association leaders, and fve pastors and health outreach workers. Frequently mentioned barriers to approaching hospitals and clinics included problems in communication, establishing financial eligibility, and extremely long waits for service. We found frequent use of cultural alternatives, such as herbal medications, obtaining care from Mexican doctors, and some use of traditional healers. Te role of religiosity is studied: prayer is viewed as fundamental to health, but the church is not perceived as an aid in physical health-seeking. Health care for Latino immigrants ofen involves a blend of mainstream and traditional medicine; the study discusses examples of respondents who navigate between the two systems within the interplay of culture and structure.

Health barriers Latino immigrants Cultural alternatives

hospital admission cultural anthropology Communication Barriers psychological aspect human communication disorder Professional-Patient Relations Central America ethnology Mexico Eligibility Determination Hispanic Americans qualitative research religion human relation Humans Hispanic traditional medicine Waiting Lists male Emigrants and Immigrants Medicine, Traditional female Article organization and management migration Utilization Review patient attitude Patient Acceptance of Health Care Religion and Medicine attitude to health Health Services Accessibility Culture health care delivery