Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
Volume 28, Issue 4, 2017, Pages 1314-1326

Access to health care among Mexican migrants and immigrants: A comparison across migration phases (Article)

Martinez-Donate A.P.* , Ejebe I. , Zhang X. , Guendelman S. , Lê-Scherban F. , Rangel G. , Gonzalez-Fagoaga E. , Hovell M.F. , Amuedo-Dorantes C.
  • a Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, United States
  • b School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, United States
  • c School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, United States
  • d School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, United States
  • e Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, United States
  • f U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission, United States
  • g U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission, United States
  • h Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, United States
  • i Department of Economics, San Diego State University, United States

Abstract

Objectives. We examined differences in, and factors associated with, access to health services among Mexican im/migrants to the U.S. across migration phases, including pre-departure, destination, interception, and return. Methods. Using data from a cross-sectional survey conducted in Tijuana, Mexico (N = 1,541), we computed descriptive statistics and staged logistic regressions to estimate health care access indicators and factors associated with access to services. Results. Im/migrants at post-migration phases had lower likelihood of receiving health care and having a usual source of care, and higher rates of forgone care, than their counterparts at pre-departure. These differences were partly explained by length of migration phase, health insurance status, transportation barriers, and detention or imprisonment. Conclusions. Mexican im/migrants face challenges in accessing health services across the migration continuum, especially at post-migration phases. Binational efforts to provide affordable insurance coverage and reduce transportation limitations and incarceration could contribute to improving health care access among Mexican im/migrants. © Meharry Medical College.

Author Keywords

Health care access Migration phase Mexican migrants and immigrants Health care utilization

Index Keywords

immigrant health insurance human middle aged statistics detention statistics and numerical data time factor comparative study Time Factors ethnology Mexico Cross-Sectional Studies United States cross-sectional study migrant Humans male Emigrants and Immigrants female Mexican American health care utilization major clinical study adult migration health care access Emigration and Immigration Transients and Migrants Health Services Accessibility Mexican Americans health care delivery
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85035312319&doi=10.1353%2fhpu.2017.0116&partnerID=40&md5=362ec32ec116e67ac1bcf40a1145de80
DOI: 10.1353/hpu.2017.0116
ISSN: 10492089
Cited by: 6
Original Language: English