RESUMO
The limited empirical data available on maternal health problems among Mexican immigrant women in the United States suggest that they underutilize health services, especially general preventive care. Research conducted among legal and undocumented women in the Mexican immigrant population in San Diego, California, support these findings. Among undocumented mothers, 11.5% of their births in the U.S. occurred with no prenatal care or care sought in the third trimester, which is much higher than Mexican women legally in the country (3.6%) and the general San Diego maternal population (3.8%). When we examine births which occurred within the last five years by immigration status, we find that women legally in the country have a much higher rate of cesarean delivery of both undocumented women and women in the general San Diego maternal population. Undocumented women in our sample were much less likely than their legal counterparts to return for postpartum examinations for themselves, to seek neonatal care for their infants, and to have had Pap examinations or carry out breast self-examinations.
PIP: Between March 1981 and February 1982, personal in-home interviews were conducted with 2,103 adults born in Mexico who were living or working in San Diego County, California, regardless of their legal status in the US. Both documented, (legal) and undocumented respondents exhibited a number of socioeconomic characteristics which could influence their utilization of US medical services. The data indicate that underutilization of prenatal care exists in this population. Among undocumented mothers, 11.5% of their births in the US occurred with no prental care sought in the 3rd trimester, which is much higher than Mexican women legally in the country (3.6%) and the general San Diego maternal population (3.8%). When births which occurred within the last 5 years are examined by immigration status, it is found that women legally in this country have a much higher rate of cesarean delivery for both undocumented women and women in the general San Diego maternal population. Undocumented women in our sample were much less likely than their legal counterparts to return for postpartnum examinations for themselves, to seek neonatal care for their infants, and to have had Pap examinations or carry out breast self-examinations.
Assuntos
Serviços de Saúde Comunitária/estatística & dados numéricos , Emigração e Imigração , Hispânico ou Latino , California , Cesárea , Feminino , Humanos , Recém-Nascido , Serviços de Saúde Materna/estatística & dados numéricos , México/etnologia , Gravidez , Cuidado Pré-Natal , Serviços Preventivos de Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Encaminhamento e Consulta/estatística & dados numéricos , Fatores SocioeconômicosRESUMO
This paper examines survey data gathered from 2103 Mexican immigrants living or working in San Diego County, California, in order to explore four fundamental questions concerning the utilization of health services: (a) What type of health services do Mexican immigrants use? (b) When hospitals are used, do they tend to be emergency room services? (c) Do Mexican immigrants use preventive services? (d) To what extent do the utilization patterns of undocumented immigrants differ from their legally-immigrated counterparts? The socioeconomic profile of the sample is characterized through analysis of variables such as sex, age, length of residence in the U.S., occupation and income. Mexican immigrants, particularly the undocumented, are relatively young compared to the non-immigrant population, of short duration in the U.S. and earn low income. In addition, undocumented and legally-immigrated respondents are covered by medical insurance at rates far below the general population. Mexican immigrants, including the undocumented, use a variety of health services. Hospital services are not the primary source of care. However, when undocumented respondents did use hospital services, they were more likely to use emergency room care than their legally-immigrated counterparts, who were more likely to use out-patient services. Finally, undocumented respondents tended to neglect preventive services as evidenced by examination of the use of pre-natal care, general check-ups and dental services.