A Community-Based Partnership Approach to Access to Care Barriers among Limited-English-Proficient Latinas

Limited-English-proficient (LEP) Latinas encounter multiple barriers to healthcare access, ranging from language and communication difficulties, information and knowledge gaps, and culturally divergent values, attitudes, and practices to operational deterrents such as transportation, availability of services, and lack of health insurance. Lack of access to healthcare and inappropriate utilization of the healthcare system contribute to poor health outcomes and health disparities. Using a community-based partnerships approach, the South Carolina Partnership for Cancer Prevention has designed and implemented interventions to improve healthcare access knowledge, self-efficacy, and navigation skills among the local Latina population. These include English and Spanish-language classes on how to access the healthcare system, Spanish-language health communications campaigns, and promotora-delivered health education. Ongoing challenges within the healthcare system include the fragmentation of services, the increasing complexity of eligibility and cost criteria, and lack of consistent language interpretation services. This work is submitted on behalf of a diverse group of collaborators.