TY - JOUR
T1 - Health status of mexican-origin persons
T2 - Do proxy measures of acculturation advance our understanding of health disparities?
AU - Carter-Pokras, Olivia
AU - Zambrana, Ruth E.
AU - Yankelvich, Gillermina
AU - Estrada, Maria
AU - Castillo-Salgado, Carlos
AU - Ortega, Alexander N.
PY - 2008/5/12
Y1 - 2008/5/12
N2 - Objectives: This paper compares select health status indicators between the U.S. and Mexico, and within the Mexican-origin population using proxy measures of acculturation. Methods: Statistical data were abstracted and a Medline literature review conducted of English-language epidemiologic articles on Mexican-origin groups published during 1976-2005. Results: U.S.-born Mexican-Americans have higher morbidity and mortality compared to Mexico-born immigrants. Mexico has lower healthcare resources, life expectancy, and circulatory system and cancer mortality rates, but similar infant immunization rates compared to the U.S. Along the U.S.-Mexico border, the population on the U.S. side has better health status than the Mexican side. The longer in the U.S., the more likely Mexican-born immigrants engage in behaviors that are not health promoting. Conclusions: Researchers should consider SEP, community norms, behavioral risk and protective factors when studying Mexican-origin groups. It is not spendingtime in the U.S. that worsens health outcomes but rather changes in health promoting behaviors.
AB - Objectives: This paper compares select health status indicators between the U.S. and Mexico, and within the Mexican-origin population using proxy measures of acculturation. Methods: Statistical data were abstracted and a Medline literature review conducted of English-language epidemiologic articles on Mexican-origin groups published during 1976-2005. Results: U.S.-born Mexican-Americans have higher morbidity and mortality compared to Mexico-born immigrants. Mexico has lower healthcare resources, life expectancy, and circulatory system and cancer mortality rates, but similar infant immunization rates compared to the U.S. Along the U.S.-Mexico border, the population on the U.S. side has better health status than the Mexican side. The longer in the U.S., the more likely Mexican-born immigrants engage in behaviors that are not health promoting. Conclusions: Researchers should consider SEP, community norms, behavioral risk and protective factors when studying Mexican-origin groups. It is not spendingtime in the U.S. that worsens health outcomes but rather changes in health promoting behaviors.
KW - Emigration and immigration
KW - Hispanic Americans
KW - Mexican Americans
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U2 - 10.1007/s10903-008-9146-2
DO - 10.1007/s10903-008-9146-2
M3 - Article
C2 - 18470618
AN - SCOPUS:54949098483
VL - 10
SP - 475
EP - 488
JO - Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
JF - Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
SN - 1557-1912
IS - 6
ER -