This presentation proposes to highlight findings from a health needs assessment of a Native American/Mexican community living on the U.S.-Mexican border (referred to as the Tribe for anonymity purposes). The members of the community who live on the Mexican side of the border are the target population of this assessment. The findings will be based on the analysis of data from three focus groups composed of: 1) a cross-section of tribal members from 11 urban and rural communities in Mexico, 2) 5 health care providers from 3 communities in Mexico, and 3) 5 health care providers from 1 U.S. hospital that serves the Tribe.
The experience of this target population is unique because it crosses socioeconomic, ethnic, national and political boundaries. From the Tribe’s perspective, the Mexican members are worse off than their U.S. counterparts with respect to accessing adequate health care because Mexican members are poor and not well-educated; they lack transportation to the capital cities in Mexico where secondary/tertiary services are clustered; and they do not have U.S. citizenship making them ineligible for these services in the U.S. Furthermore, a meaningful solution to this problem cannot be reached until the conflicting interests and circumstances of the other two key players, Mexican health officials and U.S. health providers, are carefully weighed.
Recommendations presented will be based on the issues put forth. Efforts will be made to incorporate the community’s reaction to our assessment into the recommendations to encourage continued community participation and foster community empowerment.
Learning Objectives: At the end of this session, participants will be able to apply the use of qualitative methods when conducting health needs assessment; identify key players involved in planning an intervention; and develop an appropriate intervention based on the interests/objectives of the key players
Keywords: Access to Health Care, Minority Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
IHS (Indian Health Services)
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.