Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #106454

Carolyn Marie Garcia, PhD, MPH, MS, RN¹, Elizabeth M. Saewyc, PhD, RN, PHN², Michael Resnick, PhD³, Linda H. Bearinger, PhD, MS⁴, and Laura J. Duckett, PhD, RN¹. (1) School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, 6101 Weaver-Densford Hall, 308 Harvard Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, 612-624-9160, ducke001@umn.edu, (2) School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, T201-2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5, Canada, (3) Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, University of Minnesota, 200 Oak Street, SE., Ste. 260, Minneapolis, MN 55455, (4) Center for Adolescent Nursing, School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, 6-193 WDH, 308 Harvard Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455

Purpose: Health disparities between Latino adolescents and their ethnic counterparts are pronounced. Latino adolescents face barriers to receiving optimal health care and education, resulting in greater likelihood of developing health problems that may go undetected until adulthood. Despite concern, little is known about immigrant Latino adolescents' access to health care services in the U.S. It is critical that primary, secondary, and tertiary services are designed and delivered to effectively and efficiently address immigrant adolescents' perceived and actual health care needs. The purpose of this study was to describe immigrant Latino adolescents' experiences accessing health care services including perceived barriers and facilitators. Methods: Focused ethnography, including one-to-one interviews. Results: The sample (N=14) included 9 females and 5 males, 15 to 20 years of age, emigrated from Mexico, with lengths of time residing in the U.S. between 3 months and nearly 3 years. Youth were recruited from a school and a church in two metropolitan cities. Interviews were transcribed with Spanish translated into English. Data were coded using Atlas.ti. All participants had experienced the U.S. health care system, for themselves or a family member. Services were accessed for physical concerns, vaccination requirements, or a preventive exam. Adolescents identified positive experiences when providers demonstrated respect and kindness, and took time to explain things. Negative experiences were attributed to language and treatment perceived as inadequate or rudely delivered. Barriers included language, insurance requirements, and lacking knowledge. Family was the strongest facilitator to accessing care. Discussion: Providers need to recognize the facilitating role family has when immigrant Latino youth seek health care. Since family is an important source of health-related information and referral, providers should support family involvement when teens want it, rather than continuing to emphasize, perhaps unnecessarily, confidentiality of care.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

• List two factors contributing to a positive health care access experience for immigrant Latino adolescents
• Identify two primary reasons for health care experiences being perceived as negative
• Describe the role of confidentiality in providing health care to immigrant Latino adolescents
• Identify the role of family as facilitator to immigrant Latino adolescents accessing health care

Keywords: Adolescents, Access to Health Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.