Disparities in Health Status and Health Care Access and Use Among Older American Indians and Alaska Natives and Non-Hispanic Whites in California

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 799-811 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giyeon Kim ◽  
Ami N. Bryant ◽  
R. Turner Goins ◽  
Courtney B. Worley ◽  
David A. Chiriboga
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Medical Care ◽  
American Indians ◽  
Health Care Access ◽  
Alaska Natives ◽  
California Health Interview Survey ◽  
Health Care Needs ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Care Access

Objectives: The present study compared the characteristics of health status and health care access and use among older American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIANs) to those of non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs). Methods: Data were drawn from the 2009 California Health Interview Survey, with a total of 17,156 adults aged 60 and older (198 AIANs and 16,958 NHWs) analyzed. Results: Older AIANs reported poorer physical and mental health than did NHWs. AIANs were less likely than NHWs to see a medical doctor and have a usual source of medical care and were more likely than NHWs to delay getting needed medical care and report difficulty understanding the doctor at their last visit. Discussion: These findings highlight the vulnerability and unmet health care needs of older AIANs. More research on the older AIAN population is clearly needed to document their health care needs in order to better inform efforts to reduce health disparities.

Health Care Access for Children With Special Health Care Needs in California

2005 ◽  
Vol 9 (S2) ◽  
pp. S109-S116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moira Inkelas ◽  
Kathryn A. Smith ◽  
Alice A. Kuo ◽  
Linda Rudolph ◽  
Susan Igdaloff
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Access ◽  
Special Health Care Needs ◽  
Health Care Needs ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Special Health Care ◽  
Care Access ◽  
Special Health

scholarly journals Towards Equitable Health Care Access: Community Participatory Research Exploring Unmet Health Care Needs of Homeless Individuals

2021 ◽  
pp. 084456212110321
Author(s):  
Melba Sheila D’Souza ◽  
Noeman Ahmad Mirza
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Health Care Access ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Health Care Needs ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Care Access ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Unmet Health Care Needs

Community and health services often overlook health care needs of persons experiencing homelessness, which leads to deterioration in health and increased utilization of emergency services. Since homeless people are underrepresented in health service research, little is known about their unmet health care needs, particularly in smaller cities where resources are limited. This community-based participatory research explored the experiences of small-city homeless service users (HSUs) with unmet health care needs and community service providers (CSPs) who work with them to determine barriers to health care access affecting them. Structured interviews were conducted with 65 HSUs and 15 CSPs in interior British Columbia, Canada. These interviews were audio-recorded, and the retrieved data were analyzed thematically. The three themes uncovered included: a lack of access to health care and risk of stigma, a lack of trust and fear of discrimination, and a need for community navigation and social support. The findings indicate that HSUs do not receive equitable care and face challenges in accessing appropriate and timely foot care, which contributes to increased foot-related emergency visits, loss of trust in the health care system, and disabilities due to worsening foot conditions. Various social determinants of health also impact HSUs, such as low socioeconomic status, lack of housing, decreased social support, unhealthy behaviors, and inequitable access to health services. By collaborating with HSUs, community and health services need to develop innovative outreach programs that provide better community resources as the first step toward equitable access to health care.

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