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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Elaine Rodriguez, MPH, Publi Health, East Stroudsburg University, 200 Prospect Street, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301, 610-258-5712, eleinss@hotmail.com, Victor Rodriguez, MD, Warren Hospital, 6800 Upper Mud Run Rd, Easton, PA 18040, and Alberto Jose Cardelle, PhD, MPH, Public Health Program, East Stroudsburg University, 200 Prospect Street, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301.
This study provides valuable data on the Latino population living in a medium size metropolitan area (MA) of a rural state. Little information exists regarding access barriers to health care for this group. Census 2000 shows an increase in the number of Latinos residing in medium size cities as well as rural areas. The literature shows that Latinos represent more than 25% of the uninsured population, and have access to health care curtailed because of low socioeconomic status, low levels of education, low paying employment, and unemployment. Since it is estimated that by 2050 Latinos will constitute about 25 % of the United States population, information is essential in areas of health care needs. This research was conducted in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley area, which includes the MA's of Allentown and Bethlehem. The goal was to identify the demographic characteristics of the Latino population, as well as the barriers to health care associated with those demographic characteristics. Data on income and education level, family structure, English proficiency, employment, insurance coverage and access was collected from 280 families. The data was collected using a instrument adapted from the Hispanic Health Needs Assessment survey. It was administered in Spanish or English by bilingual staff. Preliminarily findings show that not only is there the expected correlation between social demographic characteristics, health care access, and utilization to health care services, but that there are unique barriers related to region's characteristics.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Latinos, Access to Health Care
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.