Effect of acculturation and income on Hispanic women's health.
This research examines how acculturation and income affect health care access, utilization, and prevention knowledge among a population of Hispanic women living along the U.S.-Mexico border in Yuma, Arizona, a rural agricultural county. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 417 Hispanic women with mean age 61.3 years (s.d.=9.2). Most were long-term residents of Yuma County with some elementary and middle school education. Respondents had low monthly household incomes (average: USD $927.77, s.d.=550.40) and 10% reported current employment. The results show that income may be a more important predictor of actual utilization of health care services while acculturation may play a more prominent role with respect to provider preferences. A better understanding of the complex interplay between the individual and the society she inhabits is required in order to develop a meaningful public health intervention that will affect disease risk.
Leybas-Amedia
Velia
V
Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Arizona National Center of Excellence in Women's Health, AZ, USA. vleybas@email.arizona.edu
Nuño
Thomas
T
Garcia
Francisco
F
D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001130:Arizona; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population; D016387:Women's Health / Q000191:economics* / Q000208:ethnology*