Barriers to medical care of Mexican-Americans: the role of social class, acculturation, and social isolation.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

Literature on medical care utilization by Mexican-Americans suggests that patterns of utilization can be explained, in part, by acculturation, social class and social isolation. The relative importance of these variables is explored in a survey of a rural Mexican-American community in Southern Texas. Data on 152 families are analyzed using a logit analysis, with utilization as the outcome variable. The results suggest that acculturation has a direct effect, while social class and social isolation interact to have a weak effect independent of acculturation. These results confirm the importance of understanding all three variables in planning and implementing medical care programs in Mexican-American communities.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Chesney, AP; Chavira, JA; Hall, RP; Gary, HE

Published Date

  • September 1982

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 20 / 9

Start / End Page

  • 883 - 891

PubMed ID

  • 7121094

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0025-7079

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1097/00005650-198209000-00002

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • United States