title: Healthcare provider perspectives on barriers to HIV-care access and utilisation among Latinos living with HIV in the US-Mexico border.
abstract: Latinos living with HIV residing in the US-Mexico border region frequently seek care on both sides of the border. Given this fact, a border health perspective to understanding barriers to care is imperative to improve patient health outcomes. This qualitative study describes and compares experiences and perceptions of Mexican and US HIV care providers regarding barriers to HIV care access for Latino patients living in the US-Mexico border region. In 2010, we conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with HIV care providers in Tijuana (n = 10) and San Diego (n = 9). We identified important similarities and differences between Mexican and US healthcare provider perspectives on HIV care access and barriers to service utilisation. Similarities included the fact that HIV-positive Latino patients struggle with access to ART medication, mental health illness, substance abuse and HIV-related stigma. Differences included Mexican provider perceptions of medication shortages and US providers feeling that insurance gaps influenced medication access. Differences and similarities have important implications for cross-border efforts to coordinate health services for patients who seek care in both countries.
authors.affiliation: a Center on Gender Equity and Health, Division of Global Public Health, School of Medicine, University of California , San Diego , USA.
authors.forename: Argentina E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Servin
authors.forename: Fátima A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: María Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Zúñiga
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology*; D014481:United States / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: ART; HIV; Latinos; US-Mexico border; barriers to care