Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
Volume 20, Issue 2, 2009, Pages 364-377

Beyond medical insurance: Delayed or forgone care among children in Chinese immigrant families (Article)

Huang Z.J. , Yu S.M. , Liu X.W. , Young D. , Wong F.Y.
  • a Department of International Health, Georgetown University of Nursing and Health Studies, Box 571107, 3700 Reservoir Road, NW, Washington, DC 20057, United States
  • b Maternal and Health Bureau, Health Resources Services Administration, United States
  • c [Affiliation not available]
  • d Department of International Health, Georgetown University of Nursing and Health Studies, Box 571107, 3700 Reservoir Road, NW, Washington, DC 20057, United States
  • e Department of International Health, Georgetown University of Nursing and Health Studies, Box 571107, 3700 Reservoir Road, NW, Washington, DC 20057, United States

Abstract

While Asian Americans are less likely than most Americans to use health services, little is known about their barriers to pediatric care. This study seeks to describe the prevalence of delayed/forgone pediatric care and its association with parental acculturation status in recent-immigrant Chinese families. Survey data were obtained from 76 families across two community services sites. Half of the surveyed families reported delayed/forgone pediatric care in the previous 12 months. Low-income families in suburban areas reported greater financial burdens, linguistic barriers, and a higher prevalence of delayed/forgone care than low-income families living in downtown area. Middle class immigrant families reported cultural barriers as a reason for delayed/forgone care. Traditional beliefs and not medical insurance were significant predictors of delayed/forgone care. Culturally and linguistically appropriate studies on risk reduction interventions will be needed to address the linguistic and cultural barriers to health care access.

Author Keywords

Health care access Forgone care Children's health care Delayed care Chinese American health Immigrant health Asian health

Index Keywords

China Health Care Surveys insurance risk health insurance human epidemiology Insurance Coverage District of Columbia Odds Ratio health service Confidence Intervals ethnology Insurance, Health Confidence interval United States Humans male Emigrants and Immigrants preschool child female Child, Preschool health services Article migration Utilization Review Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-67649410693&doi=10.1353%2fhpu.0.0137&partnerID=40&md5=6a523c0505e6a9569e477e0627356954
DOI: 10.1353/hpu.0.0137
ISSN: 10492089
Cited by: 8
Original Language: English