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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Ximena Urrutia-Rojas, DrPH, Social and Behavioral Sciences, UNT- HSC School of Public Health, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107, 817-735-0325, xurrutia@hsc.unt.edu, Khiya Marshall, MPH, Social and Behavioral Sciences, UNTHSC School of Public Health, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107, and Elizabeth Treviņo, DrPH, MPH, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of North Texas School of Public Health, 3500 Camp Bowie, ME1-514, Fort Worth, TX 20742.

In 2002, almost one third of immigrants in the U.S. were from Mexico with approximately one half been undocumented. Immigrant status is associated with reduced access to health care, especially for the undocumented due to their vulnerable situation, which is aggravated by language barriers and legal issues. In this study, indicators of potential access to health care of documented and undocumented Mexican immigrant males were analyzed. Predisposing, enabling, and need characteristics were used as predictors of access to care and utilization of services. A total of 122 Mexican immigrant males participated in the study. Over one half were undocumented. As hypothesized, undocumented respondents potential access was lower. Despite the relatively high rates of employment, most reported incomes below the poverty level. The extremely low income, the lack of health insurance and a regular source of care, and the negligible rates of health check-ups, indicate that overall the majority of immigrants of this study face insurmountable barriers to obtaining health care. Policies that ensure open access to health and social services and coordination of health care services across borders are essential to protect the health of this vulnerable population, which represents a substantial proportion of the U.S. labor force.

Learning Objectives: