On the Threshold: Understanding Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Services for Latinas in Emerging Communities

Available data for Latinos in Indiana show large health disparities, especially among Latinas. They lack access to SRH services; have the highest cervical cancer rates in the state; and are twice more likely than other minority women to be uninsured. Due to their status as an emerging community, their patterns of access to health services are little understood. This hinders the ability of health care systems to reach this population, and increases the detrimental effects of health disparities.

Methods: This exploratory study uses semi-structured interviews, collected using referral sampling, to evaluate the sexual and reproductive health resources and services available to Latinas in one county in South-Central Indiana, and analyzes providers’ perception of the needs of this population.

Results: The patchwork of services leaves large segments of this population uncovered. Available services center on women who represented risk for pregnancy or STIs. No SRH preventive or treatment services were available for older women, or those that could not reproduce. Providers had problems reaching Latinas in the area, and with individual communication once they were able to engage. Perceptions of Latinas focused on their risk for workplace injuries and as victims of domestic violence, not on their SRH needs.

Conclusions: In this emerging community availability and access to SRH services are limited. Contact with the health system is viewed through their embodiment of risk, or victimhood. There is no overt talk of SRH needs, beyond the reproductive or STI risk. We uncover issues faced in emerging communities and make recommendations.