4261.0: Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - 4:45 PM

Abstract #27450

Hostile Shores: How immigrant families fare with health care

Ana Lòpez - De Fede, MA, MEd, Myriam Torres, RN, MA, and Teresa Payne, MA. Institute for Families in Society, University of South Carolina, 937 Assembly Street - Carolina Plaza, Columbia, SC 29208, 803-777-5789, adefede@sc.edu

The increased number of poor immigrant Latino families in the Southeast raises concerns about their high uninsurance rates and access to care. Through a statewide community needs assessment 327 face-to-face interviews were conducted with recently immigrated Latino families in South Carolina. This presentation will examine the joint effects of health insurance status, place of birth, length of time in the United States, and employment status (migrant agricultural versus non-migrant agricultural and seasonal workers). Of newly immigrated Spanish-speaking families, 87 percent were uninsured compared with 98 percent of migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Recently immigrated non-migrant agricultural and seasonal workers were less likely to have regular care or to have sought health care. Children in both groups with the ability to obtain health insurance experienced difficulties accessing health care services outside of those associated with migrant clinics. Language barriers and the perception of discrimination towards Spanish-speaking immigrants posed major barriers to accessing health care services. Health insurance and state policies regarding immigrant families must act in concert to increase health care access for foreign-born families and their children

Learning Objectives: At the end of the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to: 1. Identify the barriers to health care for Latino immigrants in the Southeast portion of the United States. 2. Assess strategies for conducting outreach and community engagement efforts to address the health care needs of this population. 3. Examine the community collaboration approach adopted to conduct a statewide health needs assessment with recently immigrated exclusively Spanish-speaking immigrants.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: University of South Carolina, Institute for Families in Society; SC Department of Health and Environmental Control, Office of Minority health; Acercamiento Hispano, Inc.
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Faculty member at the University of South Carolina and principal investigator on the contract for this study.

The 129th Annual Meeting of APHA