Gender and health care access in Mexican origin adults

Objectives: Using intersectional theory, I examine the association between 4 measures (citizenship, work, marital status, age) and health care access for U.S. born, Mexico born, women, men and all Mexican origin. I measure health care access by health insurance, particular place for care and going out of the U.S. for care. Methods: I use logistic regression in the analysis from the “Health Insurance Coverage Among Working Latinos in California” study, a 2001 random phone survey. This data focuses on Mexican origin adults. Results: Citizenship is positively associated with health insurance; having a particular place for care for women, men and the Mexico born. Marital status is positively associated with health insurance for all Mexican origin and U.S. born; positively associated with having a particular place for health care for men. Work is positively associated with health insurance; a particular place for health care for all groups except the U.S. born. Age is positively associated with health insurance access for Mexico born; positively associated with a place for care for the Mexico born, the U.S. born and all Mexican origin. Citizenship is negatively associated with accessing care outside of the U.S. for women and all Mexican origin. Age is positively associated with seeking care outside of the U.S., women, Mexico born and all Mexican origin. Conclusions: The associations between gender and health care access for Mexican origin workers varies by citizenship, work, marital status and age for each measure of health care access. This suggests ramifications for health care reform.