Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
Volume 25, Issue 4, 2014, Pages 1679-1697

Factors influencing health care access perceptions and care-seeking behaviors of immigrant Latino sexual minority men and transgender individuals: Baseline findings from the HOLA intervention study (Article)

Tanner A.E.* , Reboussin B.A. , Mann L. , Ma A. , Song E. , Alonzo J. , Rhodes S.D.
  • a Department of Public Health Education, University of North Carolina Greensboro, United States
  • b Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy and Department of Biostatistical Sciences, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, United States
  • c Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, United States
  • d Department of Public Health Education, University of North Carolina Greensboro, United States
  • e Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, United States
  • f Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, United States
  • g Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, United States

Abstract

Little is known about immigrant Latino sexual minorities’ health seeking behaviors. This study examined factors associated with perceptions of access and actual care behaviors among this population in North Carolina. Methods. A community-based participatory research partnership recruited 180 Latino sexual minority men and transgender individuals within preexisting social networks to participate in a sexual health intervention. Mixedeffects logistic regression models and GIS mapping examined factors influencing health care access perceptions and use of services (HIV testing and routine check-ups). Results. Results indicate that perceptions of access and actual care behaviors are low and affected by individual and structural factors, including: years living in NC, reported poor general health, perceptions of discrimination, micro-, meso-, and macro-level barriers, and residence in a Medically Underserved Area. Discussion. To improve Latino sexual minority health, focus must be placed on multiple levels, including: individual characteristics (e.g., demographics), clinic factors (e.g., provider competence and clinic environment), and structural factors (e.g., discrimination). © Meharry Medical College.

Author Keywords

Health care access Latino sexual minority Immigrant

Index Keywords

Transgender Persons human middle aged statistics and numerical data ethnology Hispanic Americans Homosexuality, Male male homosexuality Young Adult Humans migrant psychology Hispanic Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants transgender adult patient attitude Patient Acceptance of Health Care attitude to health Health Services Accessibility health care delivery
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84911409687&doi=10.1353%2fhpu.2014.0156&partnerID=40&md5=ff0de590112807c291a7bf8c33e26c67
DOI: 10.1353/hpu.2014.0156
ISSN: 10492089
Cited by: 16
Original Language: English