Abstract

The Latino population is one of many minority groups in the United States that consistently receives subpar medical care in comparison with the majority of Americans. There are multiple barriers and hindrances that contribute to this lack of care that many Latinos receive. Issues such as language, poverty, medical costs, health insurance, and policies are all contributors to this issue. The most notable barrier is the lack of cultural competence among many healthcare providers. This research works towards shedding light on these issues that many face and addressing possible solutions to these issues.

The Latino population is often disproportionately served as there are a lack of medical interpreters for Spanish speaking families. Before even being able to visit a medical provider, there is sometimes a concern of being able to afford a medical visit due to high poverty rates among the Latino population in the United States. Furthermore, high uninsurance rates often put the population even more at risk. The culmination of these issues makes a simple doctor visit seem much more difficult to attain. Beyond all these hindrances and barriers prior to a visit, this population oftentimes faces further barriers as many healthcare providers are not adequately training to have full cultural competency. The findings of this analysis have revealed the need for further research and dissemination of cultural competency trainings and initiatives to better the medical care for the Latino population in the United States.

Semester/Year of Award

Spring 2021

Mentor

Julie Duckart

Mentor Department Affiliation

Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

Access Options

Restricted Access Thesis

Document Type

Bachelor Thesis

Degree Name

Honors Scholars

Degree Level

Bachelor's

Department

Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

Department Name when Degree Awarded

Occupational Therapy

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