Latino immigrants' access to health care in Pittsburgh: A new-growth community

BACKGROUND: Despite a 44% increase in population in the last decade, greater Pittsburgh's Latinos are considered invisible because they are not geographically concentrated. Many of the estimated 20,000 Latinos are without medical insurance. Research has shown that Latinos often suffer from higher incidence of diseases and accidental deaths. Latinos experience limited access to health care, which is related to social integration. The objective of this research was to discover how level of social integration was related to access and which services the community feels they lack.

METHODS: This study is based on open-ended qualitative interviews with a small, purposive sample of young adult Hispanic immigrants. Interviews were analyzed qualitatively extracting themes that were then grouped.

RESULTS: Length of respondents' stay in Pittsburgh did not appear to improve access to services. Access was more related to the extent of one's social network, consisting of family members living in Pittsburgh before the respondent's arrival. Frequently mentioned needs were dental services, health insurance, bilingual service providers, and English classes. Social isolation, lack of legal documentation, fear, racial discrimination, and institutional employees' lack of cultural competence were cited as barriers to access.

CONCLUSIONS: As a new growth community, service providers are not prepared to reach the needs of the population. Pittsburgh's Latinos would benefit from increased outreach efforts and community building and mobilization strategies. Additional qualitative research will help to increase awareness and understanding of challenges faced by this community as it seeks to access health care.