title: Insurance Status Is a Greater Barrier Than Income or Acculturation to Chronic Disease Screening in the Mexican Origin Population in El Paso, Texas.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the association between income, insurance status, acculturation, and preventive screening for diabetes, high blood pressure, and cholesterol in Mexican American adults living in El Paso, Texas. This is a secondary data analysis using data from El Paso, Texas, that was collected between November 2007 and May 2009. Bivariate and stepwise regression analysis was used to determine the relationships between income, insurance, and acculturation factors on preventive screenings. Findings indicate that insurance status was associated with blood pressure check, blood sugar check, cholesterol screening, and any preventive screening. The association for income $40,000 + was explained by insurance. The only significant acculturation variable was language use for cholesterol. Disparities in preventive health screening in Mexican Americans were associated with primary insurance coverage in El Paso, Texas. With the border region being among the most medically underserved and underinsured areas in the United States, the results from this study suggest policy efforts are essential to ensure equal access to resources to maintain good health. Intervention efforts may include increasing awareness of enrollment information for insurance programs through the Affordable Care Act.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas at Houston Health Science Center, El Paso Regional Campus, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Salinas
authors.forename: Hendrik D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: de Heer
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Lapeyrouse
authors.forename: Josiah M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Heyman
authors.forename: Hector Guillermo
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Balcázar
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D017058:Mexican Americans; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D058991:Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013781:Texas; D055815:Young Adult