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

Abstract #107080

Robert M. Saywell, PhD, MPH¹, Javier F. Sevilla, MD¹, Terrell W. Zollinger, DrPH¹, Michael J. Przybylski, PhD², Kathleen Zoppi, PhD¹, and Jacqueline M. Hirth². (1) Department of Family Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1110 West Michigan Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202-5102, (2) Bowen Research Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Long Hospital Second Floor, 1110 West Michigan, Indianapolis, IN 46202-5102, 317-278-0345, jhirth@iupui.edu

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the impact of selected demographic and clinical factors on the barriers to health care faced by Hispanics. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to 191 Hispanic/Latino individuals recruited at community health centers, churches, restaurants, hair salons, and a community Hispanic center. Logistic regression analysis was performed to measure the impact of demographic and clinical characteristics on perceived health care barriers. Results: Six barriers were identified: 1] cost of services (52.4%) 2] lack of health insurance (44.0 %), 3] language (37.7%), 4] fear of the system (27.8%), 5] lack of transportation (7.9%), and 6] lack of knowledge of available services (5.2%). Logistic regression analysis indicated that the cost of services barrier was affected by the individual's geographic origin of Mexico compared to other countries (O.R. = 0.13). Lack of health insurance barrier was affected by geographic origin (O.R. = 6.22), health insurance coverage (O.R. = 2.80), and length of time since the last examination (O.R. = 1.20); the language barrier was affected by gender (O.R. = 0.31), health insurance coverage (O.R. = 0.10), receiving treatment for a chronic disease (O.R. = 0.22), and physical health status (O.R. = 0.97). Variation in fear of the system, not knowing about services, and transportation barriers were not explained by the predictor variables used. Conclusions: Barriers to health care for Hispanics vary by selected economic, social, cultural and clinical characteristics. These differences need to be better understood so that interventions can more appropriately target Hispanic populations. Words: 249

Learning Objectives:

• 1] Identify the most common barriers to health care access faced by the Hispanic community of Indianapolis
• 2] Determine the degree to which selected demographic and clinical factors predict the perception of health care barriers
• 3] Appreciate the need for targeted community interventions to increase access to health care among Hispanics, based on individual characteristics

Keywords: Access to 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.