250373 Latino immigrant male day laborers' patterns of access and utilization of usual sources of health care

Tuesday, November 1, 2011: 1:06 PM

Vilma Enriquez-Haass, PhD, MPH , Health Services, UCLA School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Steven P. Wallace, PhD , School of Public Health, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Abel Valenzuela Jr., PhD , Chicana and Chicano Studies, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
     
This study analyzes a national sample of Latino immigrant male day laborers and their patterns of access and utilization of health services in the United States.

Methods: This study conducted a multivariate analysis of the National Day Labor Survey, a random sample (N=2441) of day laborers interviewed in-person in 2004. Using the conceptual framework of the Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations, the study estimated predictors of having a usual source of care, the site of that usual source of care and the likelihood of utilizing emergency rooms.

Results: Day laborers experience formidable barriers to access to health services. About half of the day laborers did not have a regular source of healthcare (46%). Those with a regular source of care were more likely to use community clinics (80%) than doctor's offices (7%). Day laborer's use of emergency room was relatively low (11%) despite their level of health need where one in five report an occupational injury requiring medical attention. In the multivariate analysis, predisposing and enabling factors were usually stronger predictors of access than health need. The strongest predictors of having a usual source of care were health insurance (OR=14), English speaking ability (OR= 3), and living in the US five years or longer (OR=2), while health need such as occupational injuries and having chronic conditions were not significant. The stratified analysis by documentation status found greater health disparities for undocumented day laborers.

Policy Implications: Latino immigrant male day laborers are a vulnerable population exposed to high occupational risk factors and with limited access to health services. This has important consequences for their health status and the community health centers that serve them. The results of this study can inform health policy that aim to reduce health disparities and expand the capacity of community health centers that serve immigrant populations.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Diversity and culture
Occupational health and safety
Provision of health care to the public
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
By the end of this presentation participants will be able to describe the four main factors that promote day laborer's access to a usual source of health services.

Keywords: Access to Health Care, Immigrants

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I conducted the primary research on this study in collaboration with my coauthors
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.

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