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

Abstract #108281

Zhihuan J. Huang, PhD, HRSA/MCHB/ODIM, 5600 Fishers Lane, 18-41, Rockville, MD 20857, 202 884-3613, jhuang@cnmc.org, Joy Liu, CRI VI, CNMC, 111 Michigan ave, Washington, DC 22101, and Jill G. Joseph, MD, PhD, Center for Health Services and Community Research, Children's National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20010.

Multi-level factors on pediatric healthcare access in Chinese immigrant families: a survey in downtown and suburban DC areas.

Objectives: To assess impact of the multi-level factors (family, community, and state policy) on immigrant pediatric healthcare access.

Methods: Parents of 90 Chinese immigrant families in DC metropolitan area provided information about their children's healthcare access, their socio-economic status, acculturation status, and community involvement. The families recruited can be categorized as: middle-class suburban DC (MS), low-income suburban DC (LS), and low-income downtown DC (LD). The outcome measures include: medical insurance availability, usual place of health care, and delayed/unmet medical needs. Bi-variable analysis and multiple logistic regressions were used to explore the healthcare access barriers by family type and community involvement adjusting for SES and acculturation differences.

Results: There are 29 LS, 21 LD, and 40 MS Chinese immigrant families participated. All families reported higher rates of healthcare access problems compare to national norm, while the low-income suburban families are most likely to report lacking of medical insurance (57% LS, 14% LD, 0% MS, p<0.01), having unmet medical needs (71%, 29% LD, 46.5% MS, P<0.01), and having delayed care (71%, 57% LD, 31% MS, p<0.01).

Conclusion: Chinese immigrant families face more problems in pediatric healthcare access compare to native families. A higher community involvement might offset disadvantages such as poor education and low acculturation in low-income immigrant families when they seek healthcare for their children.

Learning Objectives:

• To understand how family, community and government factors influences immigrant children’s healthcare access in US.

Keywords: Immigrants, 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.

Recorded presentation