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

Abstract #109371

Alvaro Garza, MD, MPH¹, Matthew A. Stanich, MPH¹, Maria Teresa Hernandez, MPH², and George Lemp, DrPH². (1) Latino Center for Medical Education and Research, University of California, San Francisco-Fresno, 550 East Shaw Ave, Ste 210, Fresno, CA 93710, 559-241-7670, agarza@ucsfresno.edu, (2) University of California Office of the President, Universitywide AIDS Research Program, 300 Lakeside Drive, 6th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612

Objectives: To describe the utilization of selected preventive healthcare services, and identify demographic, social, and behavioral characteristics associated with receiving services among Mexican migrants in California.

Methods: We analyzed data collected between January and December 2004 in Fresno County for the California-Mexico Epidemiological Surveillance Pilot, a survey composed of a venue and housing-based, targeted random sample of Mexico-California migrants using a 35-minute face-to-face questionnaire.

Results: Of 340 respondents, 101 (30%) received health services for HIV/AIDS, STI, or TB within the past 12 months. Approximately two-thirds received services in California. Health services were accessed more by females (35%) than males (25%). Half of MSM (N=11) and all transgender respondents (N=6) received services. Respondents who received health services showed a significant association with some schooling in the U.S. (18% vs. 5%; p<0.001), more years of education (8.9 years vs. 7.1 years; p<0.001), high language acculturation score (40% vs. 14%; p<0.001), attending a health fair in the last year (14% vs. 7%; p=0.041), having access to condoms when needed (41% vs. 26%; p=0.009), and higher HIV transmission-risk knowledge score (85% vs. 74%; p<0.001).

Conclusions: The Mexico-California migrant population in Fresno lives most of the year in California, where they primarily receive HIV/AIDS, STI, and TB services. Results suggest that accessing health services is related to education, acculturation, and attending health fairs as well as to disease prevention outcomes, such as increased availability of condoms and better HIV risk knowledge. These results support continuing and expanding health educational and outreach efforts with Mexico-California migrants.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Describe the California-Mexico Epidemiological Surveillance Pilot.
• 2. Identify where migrants receive most health services.
• 3. Discuss the major social or behavioral associations with migrants receiving health services.

Keywords: Access to Health Care, Migrant Health

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.