title: Exploring the Association of Homicides in Northern Mexico and Healthcare Access for US Residents.
abstract: Many legal residents in the United States (US)-Mexico border region cross from the US into Mexico for medical treatment and pharmaceuticals. We analyzed whether recent increases in homicides in Mexico are associated with reduced healthcare access for US border residents. We used data on healthcare access, legal entries to the US from Mexico, and Mexican homicide rates (2002-2010). Poisson regression models estimated associations between homicide rates and total legal US entries. Multivariate difference-in-difference linear probability models evaluated associations between Mexican homicide rates and self-reported measures of healthcare access for US residents. Increased homicide rates were associated with decreased legal entries to the US from Mexico. Contrary to expectations, homicides did not have significant associations with healthcare access measures for legal residents in US border counties. Despite a decrease in border crossings, increased violence in Mexico did not appear to negatively affect healthcare access for US border residents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Markets, Public Policy, and Law, Boston University School of Management, Boston, MA, USA, geissler@bu.edu.
authors.forename: Kimberley H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Geissler
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Sally C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Stearns
authors.forename: Harsha
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thirumurthy
authors.forename: George M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Holmes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006708:Homicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult