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Receptionists, doctors, and social workers: Examining undocumented immigrant women's perceptions of health services

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  • Armenta, Amada
  • Sarabia, Heidy

Abstract

In this paper, we examine the attitudes, experiences, and perceptions of health care among unauthorized immigrant women in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Research on health care utilization among undocumented immigrants usually focuses on barriers to securing health care access, but little attention has been paid to how these barriers shape patients' experiences. Patients' experiences are important because they affect persistence in care seeking, adherence to treatment regimens, and self-reported health. Drawing from interviews with undocumented Mexican women, we find that receptionists, staff, and social workers play an important role in shaping women's perceptions of health care. In contrast to previous research which finds that negative experiences with providers lead undocumented immigrants to withdraw from seeking medical services, without fail, our respondents persisted and sought care elsewhere. This strategy ensured that all women eventually found care with which they were satisfied, but sometimes after significant delays.

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  • Armenta, Amada & Sarabia, Heidy, 2020. "Receptionists, doctors, and social workers: Examining undocumented immigrant women's perceptions of health services," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:246:y:2020:i:c:s0277953620300071
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.112788
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Willen, Sarah S., 2012. "How is health-related “deservingness” reckoned? Perspectives from unauthorized im/migrants in Tel Aviv," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(6), pages 812-821.
    2. Tajeu, G.S. & Cherrington, A.L. & Andreae, L. & Prince, C. & Holt, C.L. & Halanych, J.H., 2015. ""We'll get to you when we get to you": Exploring potential contributions of health care staff behaviors to patient perceptions of discrimination and satisfaction," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 105(10), pages 2076-2082.
    3. Nandi, A. & Galea, S. & Lopez, G. & Nandi, V. & Strongarone, S. & Ompad, D.C., 2008. "Access to and use of health services among undocumented Mexican immigrants in a US urban area," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 98(11), pages 2011-2020.
    4. Viladrich, Anahí, 2012. "Beyond welfare reform: Reframing undocumented immigrants’ entitlement to health care in the United States, a critical review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(6), pages 822-829.
    5. Asad, Asad L. & Clair, Matthew, 2018. "Racialized legal status as a social determinant of health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 19-28.
    6. Marrow, Helen B., 2012. "Deserving to a point: Unauthorized immigrants in San Francisco’s universal access healthcare model," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(6), pages 846-854.
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    Cited by:

    1. Xuefeng Li & Li Deng & Han Yang & Hui Wang, 2020. "Effect of socioeconomic status on the healthcare-seeking behavior of migrant workers in China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(8), pages 1-15, August.
    2. Shukla, Prakriti & Lee, Myeong & Whitman, Samantha A. & Pine, Kathleen H., 2022. "Delay of routine health care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A theoretical model of individuals’ risk assessment and decision making," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).

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