Background: Understanding factors that are associated with perceived discrimination in Latina immigrants may provide opportunities to improve care for this growing population. Objective: To examine the prevalence of discrimination experiences in urban Latina immigrants and identify socio-cultural and healthcare factors that predict discrimination experiences. Design: Cross-sectional survey of 166 Latina immigrants. Measurements: Socio-cultural: region of origin, primary language, and education. Healthcare factors: insurance, place of care, patient-provider communication, trust in provider, and satisfaction with care. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine factors that predicted discrimination. Results: 42% had at least one discrimination experience. Communication with providers was the factor most strongly associated with reporting having a discrimination experience while controlling for other variables (p<. 01). Women with good communication with their provider were 71% less likely to report discrimination. Conclusion: Better communication with providers may reduce Latinas' perceptions of discrimination and thereby improve healthcare access and use of services.

Latina immigrants discrimination healthcare communication

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