A characterization of cross-border use of health services in a transborder population at the Mexico-Guatemala border, September-November 2021.
<h4>Background</h4>Cross-border use of health services is an important aspect of life in border regions. Little is known about the cross-border use of health services in neighboring low- and middle-income countries. Understanding use of health services in contexts of high cross-border mo...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2023-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0282095 |
| _version_ | 1797848133711953920 |
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| author | Cesar Rodriguez-Chavez Silvana Larrea-Schiavon Rene Leyva-Flores Nirma D Bustamante Marcel Arevalo Ricardo Cortes-Alcala Georgina Rodriguez Rebecca Merrill Dianne Escotto Ietza Bojorquez |
| author_facet | Cesar Rodriguez-Chavez Silvana Larrea-Schiavon Rene Leyva-Flores Nirma D Bustamante Marcel Arevalo Ricardo Cortes-Alcala Georgina Rodriguez Rebecca Merrill Dianne Escotto Ietza Bojorquez |
| author_sort | Cesar Rodriguez-Chavez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Background</h4>Cross-border use of health services is an important aspect of life in border regions. Little is known about the cross-border use of health services in neighboring low- and middle-income countries. Understanding use of health services in contexts of high cross-border mobility, such as at the Mexico-Guatemala border, is crucial for national health systems planning. This article aims to describe the characteristics of the cross-border use of health care services by transborder populations at the Mexico-Guatemala border, as well as the sociodemographic and health-related variables associated with use.<h4>Methods</h4>Between September-November 2021, we conducted a cross-sectional survey using a probability (time-venue) sampling design at the Mexico-Guatemala border. We conducted a descriptive analysis of cross-border use of health services and assessed the association of use with sociodemographic and mobility characteristics by means of logistic regressions.<h4>Results</h4>A total of 6,991 participants were included in this analysis; 82.9% were Guatemalans living in Guatemala, 9.2% were Guatemalans living in Mexico, 7.8% were Mexicans living in Mexico, and 0.16% were Mexicans living in Guatemala. 2.6% of all participants reported having a health problem in the past two weeks, of whom 58.1% received care. Guatemalans living in Guatemala were the only group reporting cross-border use of health services. In multivariate analyses, Guatemalans living in Guatemala working in Mexico (compared to not working in Mexico) (OR 3.45; 95% CI 1.02,11.65), and working in agriculture/cattle, industry, or construction while in Mexico (compared to working in other sectors) (OR 26.67; 95% CI 1.97,360.85), were associated with cross-border use.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Cross-border use of health services in this region is related to transborder work (i.e., circumstantial use of cross-border health services). This points to the importance of considering the health needs of migrant workers in Mexican health policies and developing strategies to facilitate and increase their access to health services. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T18:22:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cc0cef1b7afc45a5a399b41bab58bc01 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T18:22:33Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-cc0cef1b7afc45a5a399b41bab58bc012023-04-12T05:33:15ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032023-01-01182e028209510.1371/journal.pone.0282095A characterization of cross-border use of health services in a transborder population at the Mexico-Guatemala border, September-November 2021.Cesar Rodriguez-ChavezSilvana Larrea-SchiavonRene Leyva-FloresNirma D BustamanteMarcel ArevaloRicardo Cortes-AlcalaGeorgina RodriguezRebecca MerrillDianne EscottoIetza Bojorquez<h4>Background</h4>Cross-border use of health services is an important aspect of life in border regions. Little is known about the cross-border use of health services in neighboring low- and middle-income countries. Understanding use of health services in contexts of high cross-border mobility, such as at the Mexico-Guatemala border, is crucial for national health systems planning. This article aims to describe the characteristics of the cross-border use of health care services by transborder populations at the Mexico-Guatemala border, as well as the sociodemographic and health-related variables associated with use.<h4>Methods</h4>Between September-November 2021, we conducted a cross-sectional survey using a probability (time-venue) sampling design at the Mexico-Guatemala border. We conducted a descriptive analysis of cross-border use of health services and assessed the association of use with sociodemographic and mobility characteristics by means of logistic regressions.<h4>Results</h4>A total of 6,991 participants were included in this analysis; 82.9% were Guatemalans living in Guatemala, 9.2% were Guatemalans living in Mexico, 7.8% were Mexicans living in Mexico, and 0.16% were Mexicans living in Guatemala. 2.6% of all participants reported having a health problem in the past two weeks, of whom 58.1% received care. Guatemalans living in Guatemala were the only group reporting cross-border use of health services. In multivariate analyses, Guatemalans living in Guatemala working in Mexico (compared to not working in Mexico) (OR 3.45; 95% CI 1.02,11.65), and working in agriculture/cattle, industry, or construction while in Mexico (compared to working in other sectors) (OR 26.67; 95% CI 1.97,360.85), were associated with cross-border use.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Cross-border use of health services in this region is related to transborder work (i.e., circumstantial use of cross-border health services). This points to the importance of considering the health needs of migrant workers in Mexican health policies and developing strategies to facilitate and increase their access to health services.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0282095 |
| spellingShingle | Cesar Rodriguez-Chavez Silvana Larrea-Schiavon Rene Leyva-Flores Nirma D Bustamante Marcel Arevalo Ricardo Cortes-Alcala Georgina Rodriguez Rebecca Merrill Dianne Escotto Ietza Bojorquez A characterization of cross-border use of health services in a transborder population at the Mexico-Guatemala border, September-November 2021. PLoS ONE |
| title | A characterization of cross-border use of health services in a transborder population at the Mexico-Guatemala border, September-November 2021. |
| title_full | A characterization of cross-border use of health services in a transborder population at the Mexico-Guatemala border, September-November 2021. |
| title_fullStr | A characterization of cross-border use of health services in a transborder population at the Mexico-Guatemala border, September-November 2021. |
| title_full_unstemmed | A characterization of cross-border use of health services in a transborder population at the Mexico-Guatemala border, September-November 2021. |
| title_short | A characterization of cross-border use of health services in a transborder population at the Mexico-Guatemala border, September-November 2021. |
| title_sort | characterization of cross border use of health services in a transborder population at the mexico guatemala border september november 2021 |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0282095 |
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