Self-medication practices among a sample of Latino migrant workers in South Florida
Introduction: Although the literature on self-medication among Latino migrant workers (LMWs) is sparse, a few existing studies indicate that this practice is common in this community. The purpose of this paper is to estimate health status, access to health care, and patterns of self-medication pra...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2014-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpubh.2014.00108/full |
| _version_ | 1818217799165673472 |
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| author | Jesus eSanchez |
| author_facet | Jesus eSanchez |
| author_sort | Jesus eSanchez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Although the literature on self-medication among Latino migrant workers (LMWs) is sparse, a few existing studies indicate that this practice is common in this community. The purpose of this paper is to estimate health status, access to health care, and patterns of self-medication practices of a cohort of LMWs in South Florida.Methods: A stratified network-based sample was utilized to recruit 278 LMWs in the Homestead area. After screening for eligibility, participants were administered a structured questionnaire that collected data on their health status, access to health care services, and self-medication practices. A convenience sample of 24 Latino migrant workers who participated in the parent study were invited back to participate in 3 focus groups to look more in depth into self-medication practices in the Latino migrant worker community. Results: Study findings indicate that Latino migrant workers are affected by a vast array of health problems yet lack access to health care services. Participants already engaged in self-medication practices in the countries of origin and, upon their arrival in the US, these practices continue and, in many cases, increase. Conclusion: Long-held traditions and lack of access to the formal health care system in the US contribute to the high prevalence of self-medication among Latino migrant workers. Self-medication practices such as the use of prescription medications without a prescription and lay injection are high risk practices that can have harmful consequences. Prevention interventions that address self-medication in the Latino migrant worker community are likely to be most effective if they are culturally adapted to the community and facilitate access to health care services. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T07:13:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-61ea107aa4624a34be7c90848a922764 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T07:13:36Z |
| publishDate | 2014-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-61ea107aa4624a34be7c90848a9227642022-12-22T00:33:34ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652014-08-01210.3389/fpubh.2014.00108109163Self-medication practices among a sample of Latino migrant workers in South FloridaJesus eSanchez0Nova Southeastern UniversityIntroduction: Although the literature on self-medication among Latino migrant workers (LMWs) is sparse, a few existing studies indicate that this practice is common in this community. The purpose of this paper is to estimate health status, access to health care, and patterns of self-medication practices of a cohort of LMWs in South Florida.Methods: A stratified network-based sample was utilized to recruit 278 LMWs in the Homestead area. After screening for eligibility, participants were administered a structured questionnaire that collected data on their health status, access to health care services, and self-medication practices. A convenience sample of 24 Latino migrant workers who participated in the parent study were invited back to participate in 3 focus groups to look more in depth into self-medication practices in the Latino migrant worker community. Results: Study findings indicate that Latino migrant workers are affected by a vast array of health problems yet lack access to health care services. Participants already engaged in self-medication practices in the countries of origin and, upon their arrival in the US, these practices continue and, in many cases, increase. Conclusion: Long-held traditions and lack of access to the formal health care system in the US contribute to the high prevalence of self-medication among Latino migrant workers. Self-medication practices such as the use of prescription medications without a prescription and lay injection are high risk practices that can have harmful consequences. Prevention interventions that address self-medication in the Latino migrant worker community are likely to be most effective if they are culturally adapted to the community and facilitate access to health care services.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpubh.2014.00108/fullpreventionself-medicationUSLatinosmigrant |
| spellingShingle | Jesus eSanchez Self-medication practices among a sample of Latino migrant workers in South Florida Frontiers in Public Health prevention self-medication US Latinos migrant |
| title | Self-medication practices among a sample of Latino migrant workers in South Florida |
| title_full | Self-medication practices among a sample of Latino migrant workers in South Florida |
| title_fullStr | Self-medication practices among a sample of Latino migrant workers in South Florida |
| title_full_unstemmed | Self-medication practices among a sample of Latino migrant workers in South Florida |
| title_short | Self-medication practices among a sample of Latino migrant workers in South Florida |
| title_sort | self medication practices among a sample of latino migrant workers in south florida |
| topic | prevention self-medication US Latinos migrant |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpubh.2014.00108/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jesusesanchez selfmedicationpracticesamongasampleoflatinomigrantworkersinsouthflorida |