title: Barriers and influences in seeking health care among lower income minority women.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to identify and describe perceived barriers to seeking health care, determine perceptions of confidence in health care practitioners, and explore strategies to enhance, promote, and improve early health care intervention among low income minority women. Focus group methodology was used to collect data and content analysis was used to analyze the data. Results revealed four broad categories for discussion: (a) confidence in the physician, (b) frequency of engaging in screening procedures, (c) barriers and influences in seeking health care, and (d) a wish list for covered health care services. The study underscored the importance of both spirituality and family in the lives of aging minority women. The paper includes implications for public policy and suggests an agenda for public policy advocates in the new millennium.
authors.affiliation: College of Human Environmental Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa 35487-0158, USA. jesser-s@ches.ua.edu
authors.forename: Joan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Esser-Stuart
authors.forename: Margaret A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lyons
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011203:Poverty / Q000208:ethnology; D011287:Prejudice; D036301:Qualitative Research; D015144:Southeastern United States; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*