Health information preferences among Hispanic/Latino immigrants in the U.S. rural Midwest.
We investigated whether length of residence and other socio-demographic factors affect how rural Hispanic/Latino immigrants in the U.S. prefer to receive general health information. As part of a federally-funded participatory research project, we surveyed 894 adult Hispanics who were recruited through schools, community-based organizations (CBO) and faith-based organizations (FBO) in six rural communities of Illinois. Data suggest that workshops in Spanish at community settings are the most preferred health information strategy and home visits the least. Preference for these two strategies decreased significantly in the second generation, while preference for mailed printed materials increased. We further explored the role of length of residence in the U.S. on 'in-person' and 'impersonal' health information preferences controlling for other relevant socio-demographic factors finding that first generation and less educated Hispanic immigrants' prefer 'in-person' strategies. These findings suggest that rural health organizations and practitioners should implement not only culturally-appropriate but also acculturation-sensitive approaches to address Hispanic/Latino immigrants' specific health information needs.
1.University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, USA.
Sergio
S
Cristancho
Karen
K
Peters
Marcela
M
Garces
D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000379:methods*; D054521:Cultural Competency; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D057220:Health Literacy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois; D008297:Male; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
acculturation; cultural competency; health disparities; health information-seeking; health literacy; rural Hispanic/Latino immigrants