Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 18, Issue 1, 2016, Pages 219-227

Hispanic-Asian Immigrant Inequality in Perceived Medical Need and Access to Regular Physician Care (Article)

Howe Hasanali S.* , De Jong G.F. , Graefe D.R.
  • a Department of Sociology, Pennsylvania State University, 211 Oswald Tower, University Park, PA 16802, United States, Population Research Institute, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
  • b Department of Sociology, Pennsylvania State University, 211 Oswald Tower, University Park, PA 16802, United States, Population Research Institute, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
  • c Population Research Institute, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States

Abstract

In the face of continuing large immigrant streams, Hispanic and Asian immigrants’ human and social capital inequalities will heighten U.S. race/ethnic health and health care disparities. Using data from the 2004 and 2008 panels of the Survey of Income and Program Participation, this study assessed Hispanic-Asian immigrant disparity in access to health care, measured by perceived medical need and regular access to a physician. Logistic regression results indicated that Hispanics had lower perceived met medical need and were less likely to see a doctor regularly. These disparities were significantly attenuated by education and health insurance. Assimilation-related characteristics were significantly associated with a regular doctor visit and were not fully mediated by socioeconomic variables. Findings indicate the importance of education above and beyond insurance coverage for access to health care and suggest the potential for public health efforts to improve preventive care among immigrants. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Asian immigrants Health care access and utilization Perceived medical need Health care inequality Hispanic immigrants

Index Keywords

perception insurance health insurance human Insurance Coverage middle aged statistics and numerical data ethnology Insurance, Health Hispanic Americans United States Humans migrant psychology Hispanic Asian Americans male Emigrants and Immigrants female Asian American Socioeconomic Factors socioeconomics adult Healthcare Disparities health care disparity Health Services Accessibility health care delivery
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84954361185&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-014-0137-1&partnerID=40&md5=939fc9c1fc0cdb991688d13a1fb217e0
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-014-0137-1
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 2
Original Language: English