Family Intervention Research, Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
Matern Child Health J. 2012 Aug;16(6):1173-9. doi: 10.1007/s10995-011-0841-6.
With the increasing Latino population in the United States, it is critical to examine the influence of the process of acculturation on health care practices and utilization. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between acculturation level and post-partum visit (PPV) compliance among Latinas participating in a larger psycho-educational intervention aimed at encouraging women to engage in positive healthcare practices. Acculturation was measured with the Bicultural Involvement Questionnaire which assigned participants to five categories: Assimilated, Separated, Moderate, Bicultural and Alienation. Logistic Regression analyses were conducted to predict post-partum visit attendance. Odds ratios and relative risk of not attending the post-partum visit are presented. Results suggest women in the Separation and Assimilation groups were less likely than bicultural group members to attend the PPV. The only other variable that was significant in this analysis is the group condition, indicating that the intervention group was more likely to attend the PPV than the control group. Women identifying as bicultural seem to participate more actively in their own healthcare as they draw on the cultural assets that have a positive influence on informal health practices, such as healthy eating and refraining from drug use. Bicultural group members can also use formal skills related to language and knowledge of the dominant culture to help effectively navigate the healthcare system. Implications for research, intervention and practice are discussed to improve healthcare practices and increase utilization among Latinas.
随着美国拉丁裔人口的增加，研究文化适应过程对医疗保健实践和利用的影响至关重要。本研究旨在评估在参与旨在鼓励妇女从事积极医疗保健实践的大型心理教育干预的拉丁裔妇女中，文化适应水平与产后访视（PPV）依从性之间的关系。使用双语参与问卷（Bicultural Involvement Questionnaire）来衡量文化适应程度，该问卷将参与者分为五类：同化、分离、中等、双语和异化。进行逻辑回归分析以预测产后访视的出席情况。呈现了未参加产后访视的优势比和相对风险。结果表明，与双语群体成员相比，分离和同化群体的妇女不太可能参加产后访视。该分析中唯一另一个重要的变量是组条件，表明干预组比对照组更有可能参加产后访视。将自己认同为双语的妇女似乎更积极地参与自己的医疗保健，因为她们利用对非正式健康实践有积极影响的文化资产，例如健康饮食和避免使用药物。双语群体成员还可以利用与语言相关的正式技能和对主流文化的了解，帮助他们有效地驾驭医疗保健系统。讨论了研究、干预和实践的意义，以改善拉丁裔妇女的医疗保健实践和利用率。
