Persistent disparities in the use of health care along the US-Mexico border: an ecological perspective.
OBJECTIVE
We examined disparities in health care use among US-Mexico border residents, with a focus on the unique binational environment of the region, to determine factors that may influence health care use in Mexico.


METHODS
Data were from 2 waves of a population-based study of 1048 Latino residents of selected Texas border counties. Logistic regression models examined predictors of health insurance coverage. Results from these models were used to examine regional patterns of health care use.


RESULTS
Of the respondents younger than 65 years, 60% reported no health insurance coverage. The uninsured were 7 and 3 times more likely in waves 3 and 4, respectively, to use medical care in Mexico than were the insured. Preference for medical care in Mexico was an important predictor.


CONCLUSIONS
For those who were chronically ill, old, poor, or burdened by the lengthy processing of their documents by immigration authorities, the United States provided the only source of health care. For some, Mexico may lessen the burden at the individual level, but it does not lessen the aggregate burden of providing highly priced care to the region's neediest. Health disparities will continue unless policies are enacted to expand health care accessibility in the region.
Bastida
Elena
E
Department of Sociology, University of Texas-Pan American, Center on Aging and Health, Edinburg. bastida@hsc.unt.edu
Brown
H Shelton
HS
Pagán
José A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006296:Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D017057:Medically Uninsured / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006278:Medicare; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D011331:Private Practice; D013781:Texas; D014481:United States
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