Immigration Status and the Health Care Access

Please respond to these discussion posts

Immigration Status and the Health Care Access and Health of Children of Immigrants Literature Review HUS



Uraina Bryant posted Apr 1, 2019 5:38 PM


The article explored the relationship between the immigration status and children’s health status in Los Angeles County. The research showed that children in all types of immigrant families had lower parent‐reported health status than children in native families. They found that the undocumented children had no health insurance or primary physicians. The article looked at family and neighborhood characteristics, also. Where the documented families lived versus the undocumented families lived made a difference. After adding in children’s healthcare access—health insurance coverage and type of usual healthcare provider—the difference in health between children in legal immigrant and native families is only marginally significant, but children in mixed‐status and undocumented families had poorer health. There were low odds of the children seeing a dentist and many had ear infections that went untreated. The statistics showed that 60 percent of children in native families saw a dentist last year, compared to 21 percent of children in undocumented families (Gelatt 2016). They assumed this was because they did not go to a doctor for minor illnesses. It also took into account where they lived, where the parents were from, and their belief in trusting doctors or the need to go to a doctor all the time with minor illnesses. The undocumented parents made more of a difference in whether their children saw a health care person than those children of legal immigrants.

Gelatt, J. (2016). Immigration Status and the Healthcare Access and Health of Children of Immigrants. Social Science Quarterly (Wiley-Blackwell), 97(3), 540–554. https://doi-org.db24.linccweb.org/10.1111/ssqu.12261

How Food Insecurity Happens HUS Module 3, Forum 2



Niamh Schueler posted Apr 4, 2019 4:07




This video really elicited a reaction in me. I was almost unable to watch the whole video. The reason that it was especially upsetting to me is due to the fact that about 10 years ago, I was one of those people who was too embarrassed to get the paperwork I needed to get food assistance benefits. I was in my early twenties, and I had bought the house I live in currently (at the insistence of a family member) and my then-boyfriend moved in. During this time, my mental health was not as solid as it is today, and for some time, I was out of work. My boyfriend was able to get a job, but he always managed to lose it, so I was the sole earner.During the time I was out of work, I got behind on bills. Because of this, when I was able to start earning again, it was not enough to keep up with all the bills, additional fees, mortgage payment, gas and insurance for the car, and food for our household.

I got temporary assistance from SNAP, but when they told me I needed paperwork from my former employer in order to continue receiving benefits, I couldn’t bring myself to go. I was so ashamed. I was a CNA, I worked full time, but it was not enough to support us.

That is how it happens sometimes, as she states in the video. It is something that people go through, and it is not always who you would expect. No one thinks that the 25 year old who just bought her own house is unable to buy food (especially not when she is overweight).

It took me several months to recover completely, and several years to feel safe again. (Getting rid of the lazy boyfriend helped tremendously)

That is how it frequently happens. That is how I know it happens in my neighborhood, and that is how I know it could happen again.

Discussion 3-1 HSC



AMber Thomas posted Apr 4, 2019 9:41 PM





Health education is a fundamental aspect in reducing the treats to community health. Individuals all over the world suffer each day from an array of illnesses that they know minimal information about. Many patients are provided information from healthcare professionals during routine visits such as: physicals and check ups from specialty doctors without furthering their own understanding. For example, a patient may be diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and told their body simply cannot produce effective amounts of insulin. While this is the accurate definition of diabetes this information does not equip the patient with the full understanding and breakdown of how insulin is produced and why it is important, what causes the issue and how to combat this issue other than using medication for the rest of their life.; for this reason it is important for individuals to be educated in health. On the other hand, we must also take in to consideration the individuals that are not regularly seeing healthcare providers we need to make educational materials available in common places such as grocery stores, gas stations and restaurants. The more people are educated the more we can reduce avoidable illnesses and strive for healthier lifestyles.