Using a participatory process to assess the health of Latino immigrant men in a community with a growing Latino population

Latino immigrant men (LIM) are an understudied population in the US. LIM living apart from their families experience additional health care barriers and increased risk for negative health outcomes.

We conducted a health assessment with the ultimate goal of creating a network of male lay health advisors (promotores) in a county with a small yet growing Latino population (2%).

Using community-based participatory research, we explored LIM's health issues and health care access barriers. We conducted four focus groups with a total of 25 LIM, 10 open-ended interviews with health and social service providers, and surveys with 66 LIM. Focus group and interview transcripts were analyzed using the constant comparison method. Survey data were analyzed by length of stay in the U.S. We triangulated the three sources of data to identify common themes.

The vast majority of participating LIM was Mexican (69%) and lived without a partner (18%). Overall, 58% participating LIM where <35 years old, 53% had been <= years in the U.S., 53% had not completed high school, and 95% were uninsured. A total of 47% surveyed LIM reported at least 2 binge drinking episodes in the past year. Both in surveys and focus groups, prominent problems were loneliness, depression, and alcohol abuse. LIM focus groups and surveys as well as provider interviews identified the main barriers to care to be cost, misinformation, lack of Spanish speaking staff, and staff mistreatment. Additionally, LIM in focus groups explained that loneliness and lack of social connections prompted unhealthy behaviors and depression.

LIM face social isolation that results in negative health consequences. A promotores network should assist LIM in building the necessary social connections to improve their social, mental and physical health as well as provide means to access the health system.