title: Latinos' health care access: financial and cultural barriers.
abstract: This study aimed at investigating how income, culture, and language affect health care access. Data from a structured questionnaire administered to a random sample of 206 Latinos was analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. Qualitative data served to explain quantitative results. Point estimates for various access measures were similar to national data. In multivariate logistic regression, income and education determined having health insurance (OR 6.8 and 7.4; 95% CI 2.7-17.3 and 2.9-19.0, respectively). Time in the U.S. and health insurance determined having a regular source of care (OR 4.6 and 5.8; 95% CI 1.7-12.8 and 2.1-16.0, respectively). Having a source of care and being female determined visit to the doctor in the past year (OR 6.14 and 6.73; 95% CI 2.3-16.5 and 2.4-19.3, respectively). Language and culture showed no statistically significant effect on access measures, but qualitative data showed they were related to health care barriers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA. documetp@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Patricia I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Documét
authors.forename: Ravi K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003469:Culture; D004522:Educational Status; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States