An Examination of Factors Associated with Healthcare Discrimination in Latina Immigrants: The Role of Healthcare Relationships and Language.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors are grateful to all of the women who took time to participate in the study, Dr. Elmer Huerta and members of the Latin American Cancer Research Coalition. Funding for these activities were supported, in part, by ACS grants MRSGT-06-132-01-CPPB (VBS), Herbert W. Nickens, M.D., Junior Faculty Achievement Award, AAMC (VBS), and MRSGT-05-104-01-CPPB (JW), National Cancer Institute grants UO1 CA86114 (EH, JM), U01-CA114593 (JM), and KO5 CA96940 (JM).

BACKGROUND

Understanding factors that are associated with perceived discrimination in Latina immigrants may provide opportunities to improve care for this growing population.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the prevalence of discrimination experiences in urban Latina immigrants and identify socio-cultural and healthcare factors that predict discrimination experiences.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey of 166 Latina immigrants.

MEASUREMENTS

Socio-cultural: region of origin, primary language, and education. Healthcare factors: insurance, place of care, patient-provider communication, trust in provider, and satisfaction with care. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine factors that predicted discrimination.

RESULTS

42% had at least one discrimination experience. Communication with providers was the factor most strongly associated with reporting having a discrimination experience while controlling for other variables (p < 01). Women with good communication with their provider were 71% less likely to report discrimination.

CONCLUSION

Better communication with providers may reduce Latinas' perceptions of discrimination and thereby improve healthcare access and use of services.