Affiliation:
1. Center for the Advancement of Underserved Children, Department of Pediatrics
2. Department of Epidemiology, Health Policy Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin
3. Children's Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
4. Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
Abstract
BACKGROUND. Latinos continue to be the most uninsured racial/ethnic group of US children, but not enough is known about the risk factors for and consequences of not being insured in Latino children.
OBJECTIVE. The objective of this study was to identify the risk factors for and consequences of being uninsured in Latino children.
METHODS. A cross-sectional survey was conducted of parents at urban, predominantly Latino community sites, including supermarkets, beauty salons, and laundromats. Parents were asked 76 questions on access and health insurance.
RESULTS. Interviews were conducted of 1100 parents, 900 of whom were Latino. Uninsured Latino children were significantly more likely than insured Latino children to be older (mean age: 9 vs 7 years) and poor (89% vs 72%) and to have parents who are limited in English proficiency (86% vs 65%), non-US citizens (87% vs 64%), and both employed (35% vs 27%). Uninsured Latinos were significantly less likely than their insured counterparts to have a regular physician (84% vs 99%) and significantly more likely not to be brought in for needed medical care because of expense, lack of insurance, difficulty making appointments, inconvenient office hours, and cultural issues. In multivariable analyses, parents who are undocumented or documented immigrants, both parents working, the child's age, and the $4000 to $9999 and $15000 to $19999 family income quintiles were the only factors that were significantly associated with a child's being uninsured; neither Latino ethnicity nor any other of 6 variables were associated with being uninsured. Compared with insured Latino children, uninsured Latino children had 23 times the odds of having no regular physician and were significantly more likely not to be brought in for needed medical care because of expense, lack of health insurance, difficulty making appointments, and cultural barriers.
CONCLUSIONS. After adjustment, parental noncitizenship, having 2 parents work, low family income, and older child age are associated with being an uninsured child, but Latino ethnicity is not. The higher prevalence of other risk factors seems to account for Latino children's high risk for being uninsured. Uninsured Latino children are significantly more likely than insured Latino children to have no regular physician and not to get needed medical care because of expense, lack of health insurance, difficulty making appointments, and cultural barriers. These findings indicate specific high-risk populations that might benefit most from targeted Medicaid and State Child Health Insurance Program outreach and enrollment efforts.
Publisher
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Subject
Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
Reference38 articles.
1. Current Population Survey. Table HI01. Health Insurance Coverage Status and Type of Coverage by Selected Characteristics: 2003. Hispanic Origin. Available at: http://pubdb3.census.gov/macro/032004/health/h01_016.htm. Accessed August 25, 2005
2. Current Population Survey. Table HI01. Health Insurance Coverage Status and Type of Coverage by Selected Characteristics: 2003. White Alone, Not Hispanic. Available at: http://pubdb3.census.gov/macro/032004/health/h01_004.htm. Accessed August 25, 2005
3. Current Population Survey. Table HI01. Health Insurance Coverage Status and Type of Coverage by Selected Characteristics: 2003. Black Alone. Available at: http://pubdb3.census.gov/macro/032004/health/h01_006.htm. Accessed August 25, 2005
4. Current Population Survey. Table HI01. Health Insurance Coverage Status and Type of Coverage by Selected Characteristics: 2003. Asian Alone. Available at: http://pubdb3.census.gov/macro/032004/health/h01_010.htm. Accessed August 25, 2005
5. Lessard G, Ku L. Gaps in coverage for children in immigrant families. Future Child. 2003;13:101–115
Cited by
53 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献