Socio-ecological influences on health-care access and navigation among persons of Mexican Descent living on the U.S./Mexico border

Belinda M. Reininger, Cristina S. Barroso, Lisa Mitchell-Bennett, Marge Chavez, Maria E. Fernandez, Ethel Cantu, Kirk L. Smith, Susan P. Fisher-Hoch

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

The study reported here examines factors influencing decision-making concerning health care access and navigation among persons of Mexican origin living along the U.S./Mexico border. Specifically, the study examined how persons with limited financial resources accessed these two systems. Seven focus groups were held with 52 low income Mexican American people aged 18-65 years. Transcripts were analyzed to identify themes in Atlasti 5.0 software and the theory used included a socio-ecological framework and complemented by constructed from the Social Cognitive Theory. We found that in addition to a lack of insurance and financial resources to pay for health care; fear, embarrassment and denial associated with a diagnosis of illness; poor medical personnel interactions, and desire for quality but streamlined health care also influenced decision making. This theory-based study raises important issues if health care is to improve the health and welfare of disadvantaged populations and points to the need for greater focus on medical homes and prevention and early intervention approaches.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)218-228
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume16
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2014

Keywords

  • Access
  • Decision making
  • Health care
  • Immigrants
  • Mexican Americans
  • Navigation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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