title: Exploring the use of nonmedical sources of prescription drugs among immigrant Latinos in the rural Southeastern USA.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about access to medicine among immigrant Latinos in the United States (US). This study explored access to, and use of, prescription drugs obtained from nonmedical sources among recently arrived, Spanish-speaking immigrant Latinos in rural North Carolina (NC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Our community-based participatory research partnership collected, analyzed, and interpreted data from individual in-depth interviews with Latino community members and rural health service providers. A purposive sample of 30 community members, including traditional healers, religious leaders, transgender Latinos, heterosexual Latino men and women, and Latino gay men, were interviewed to gain emic ("insider") perspectives on use of nonmedical sources of prescription drugs. Six local Latino health service providers also were interviewed to gain etic ("outsider") perspectives on use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants described the roles of tiendas (grocers), family, and social networks in accessing treatment advice and prescription drugs. They described health care expectations among immigrants and contingencies for accessing prescription drugs in the US. Prescription medicines (eg, antibiotics, hormones, Viagra, analgesics), injection equipment (eg, syringes), and medical advice were identified as readily available from nonmedical sources.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased access to formalized health care and effective health education initiatives are needed to meet the challenges facing immigrant Latinos.
authors: Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157-1063, USA.
authors: Aaron T
authors: AT
authors: Vissman
authors: Fred R
authors: FR
authors: Bloom
authors: Jami S
authors: JS
authors: Leichliter
authors: Laura H
authors: LH
authors: Bachmann
authors: Jaime
authors: J
authors: Montaño
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Topmiller
authors: Scott D
authors: SD
authors: Rhodes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003132:Commerce; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000600:supply & distribution* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012424:Rural Population; D015144:Southeastern United States; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D055553:Prescription Drugs