225702 MAPPing the community: Assessing access to nontraditional healthcare

Monday, November 8, 2010 : 8:45 AM - 9:00 AM

Audrey June Burnett, PhD , Department of Health Sciences, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
Objectives: To determine the specific barriers among low-income New River Valley (NRV), Virginia residents in accessing nontraditional care (e.g., dental, vision, mental health) and insurance coverage utilizing the Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) framework.

Methods: MAPP provides communities with a framework to collect and analyze health data, as well as identify and prioritize community health issues and findings to develop and implement action plans that address defined needs. A total of 2,500 forced-choice surveys were randomly mailed to NRV residents utilizing a consumer database (28% return rate).

Results: Among the sample (70.5% female; 29.5% male), 92% were Caucasian, with 8% African American, Native American, Asian American, or Latina identity. Regarding the low-income portion of the sample (55%), 23% lacked health insurance. A total of 28% had not seen an eye doctor in the past three years, while 14% could not afford prescription eyewear. Additionally, 21% of the sample had not visited a dentist in the past three years. Furthermore, 17% reported not obtaining necessary mental health services. Finally, 35% reported obtaining most of the care that they needed, but nearly 20% reported not being able to pay for necessary care at any given time.

Conclusions: Regardless of one's ethnic identity, low-income residents without healthcare coverage or barriers to financing and/or obtaining dental, visual, or mental health services remain primary issues of concern. Efforts and legislative policies must be implemented to achieve equity across economic strata to promote better health and access to care among all community residents.

Learning Areas:
Provision of health care to the public
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
• Identify the specific barriers among low-income community residents in accessing nontraditional care (e.g., dental, vision, and mental health services) and health insurance coverage. • Discuss legislative policies to ensure equity across economic and ethnic strata regarding insurance coverage and access to care within underserved communities.

Keywords: Community Health, Barriers to Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I am an Assistant Professor of Public Health college courses with a research focus in community health, needs assessments, and health equity.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.