Healthcare Experiences of Latinos in a Nontraditional Destination Area

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe the health and healthcare experiences of immigrant Latinos compared to USA-born Latinos, Whites, and African Americans in Greater Cincinnati, Ohio, a nontraditional immigrant destination area. Immigrant Latinos had significantly worse physical and mental health than other groups and significantly more barriers to healthcare. Latinos rated the degree to which their town is socially accepting of Latinos. Lower social acceptance was correlated with worse mental health and more barriers to healthcare. Geographic information system (GIS) mapping techniques revealed geographic patterns in the association between social acceptance of Latinos and health outcomes.