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

Abstract #108291

Swaroop N. Purani, BHMS, Department of Public Health/Graduate Student, Florida International University, 11200, SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199, 305-348-1838, spura002@fiu.edu, Alejandra M. Cadavid, BHSA, Public Health/Health Service Administration, Florida International University, 11200, SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199, Marisel Losa, MHSA, St Joh Bosco Clinic & Merci Hospital of Miami, St. John Bosco Clinic, 1301, West Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33135, Amber Bell, MPH, Florida International University, 1507 Fernando Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32303, and Dev S. Pathak, DBA, Dean, Robert Stempel School of Public Health, Florida International University, 11200, SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199.

This study provides an emic view of the health seeking behaviors and barriers to health care of Hispanic immigrant population in Miami. A one shot cross sectional exploratory study using a Personal Health Assessment survey containing 23 dichotomous or multiple choice questions was conducted at a health fair organized by St. John Bosco clinic in East little Havana, Miami. The data was processed and analyzed by using SPSS. Of the 137 respondents, 67% (n=92) did not have health insurance coverage; however, 94% (35/37) of total undocumented immigrants did not have health insurance coverage. Furthermore, 71% of documented immigrants but only 48% of undocumented immigrants replied that they had visited a physician when they were ill. While 60% of total samples gave cost barrier as the reason for not seeking health care services, legal status, transportation, and language barriers were the reasons for not seeking health care among the undocumented immigrants. Also, when respondents were asked if they were witness (first person) to alcohol/drug abuse and community problems, 77% to 85% would contact police. However, if their neighbors were experiencing the same problems (third person), then instead of police undocumented immigrants preferred to contact agency, hospital and church. In short, the results indicate that while undocumented immigrants are affected by factors such as cost, legal status, health insurance and transportation, the factors affecting documented immigrants are not ranked in the same priority order.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of this study, the participants (learner) in this session will be able to
• (1). Recognize the barriers to healthcare access especially among Hispanic immigrants in Miami.” (2). List their needs for appropriate healthcare service such as health care insurance, physicians and dentists, hospitals etc.” (3). Describe difference of health seeking behavior between documented and undocumented Hispanic immigrants.”

Keywords: Hispanic, Access to Health Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: We performed our survey at St. John Bosco clinic in East little Havana, Miami with the legal permission.

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.