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Abstract #153724

Robert A. Jecklin, MPH, ABD, Department of Health Education and Promotion, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, 209 Mitchell Hall, 1725 State St., La Crosse, WI 54601, 608-785-6791, jecklin.robe@uwlax.edu

The faith and politics found in this research are collateral and do not reflect any intention to explore faith and politics at the start of this research. The questions organizing this research did not include any direct reference to faith or politics, but instead involved questions about the necessary learning of persons who are sick and uninsured. Still examples of faith and politics are found in the three in-depth interviews, a health care observation, environmental profiles, and limited review of related clinical literature. The semi-structured qualitative interviews discover the backgrounds bringing each participant to this point, a second interview following a health care observation focuses on health care experience, and a third 2-4 weeks later focuses on educative influence. The small number of participants is not a representative sample of the 47 million uninsured; instead this research retells the in-depth stories of 6 adults who find themselves in the predicament of being sick enough to need care beyond primary care and who must seek that care without any form of health insurance. The Midwestern participants are a mixture of male and female, black and white, rural and urban, and range in ages from 23 to 60. Their concerns are equally diverse regarding their health, social roles, and navigating a complex health care system. This paper reports and offers interpretation of participant words about their faith and politics, and participant use of faith and politics to understand what is happening.

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