Return-Path: <nifl-povracelit@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id eA91Fj923377; Wed, 8 Nov 2000 20:15:45 -0500 (EST) Date: Wed, 8 Nov 2000 20:15:45 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <001301c049ea$81a19880$23bffea9@hppav> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-povracelit@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-povracelit@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-povracelit@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Mary Ann Corley" <macorley1@earthlink.net> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-povracelit@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-POVRACELIT:278] Access to Health Care X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4133.2400 Status: O Content-Length: 2800 Lines: 61 The following is cross-posted from the nifl-Health listserv. Mary Ann Corley Director, National Center for Literacy and Social Justice macorley1@earthlink.net ***************************************** PARENTS' ENGLISH ABILITY AFFECTS CHILDREN'S ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, CLAIMS STUDY The fact that some Hispanic children have inadequate access to health care could be related to their parents' English-speaking ability, according to a study published in the November issue of the American Journal of Public Health. The study looks at how racial and ethnic differences affect children's access to health care and at these differences' possible association with health insurance status, socioeconomic status, and language ability. The authors' sample included nearly 6,900 children under the age of 18 who completed the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). The authors found that * 6.2 million American children did not have a usual source of care they used if they were sick or needed health advice; * When differences in health insurance status and socioeconomic status were accounted for, 17.2% of Hispanic children and 12.5% of black children lacked a usual source of care, compared to 6.0% of white children; * Children from low-income families were less likely than those from higher-income families to have a usual source of care; and * Children whose MEPS interviews were conducted in English were 2.6 times more likely to have a usual source of care than children whose interviews were conducted in Spanish. According to the study, the fact that Hispanic children were less likely than white or black children to have a usual source of care is probably due to the fact that their parents had difficulty discussing health care concerns in English and because of other characteristics associated with being a non-English speaker, such as differing knowledge and beliefs about the health care system and primary care. The authors recommend that "programs aimed at reducing racial and ethnic disparities may most profitably target other characteristics in addition to family income and lack of health insurance. . . . If one of our national goals is to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health care and health status, further study is needed to explore additional societal and health care system factors that may explain these differentials and prove amenable to intervention." Weinick RM, Krauss NA. 2000. Racial/ethnic differences in children's access to care. American Journal of Public Health 90(11):1771-1774. Sandra Smith, MPH, CHES Health Education Specialist University of Washington Center for Health Education & Research Clinical Instructor, Health Services Dept Editor, Beginnings: A Practical Guide through Pregnancy Editor, http://www.PrenatalEd.com
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