An Analysis of Acculturation Status and Healthcare Coverage for the Needs of Mental Health Service Utilization among Latinos in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama
by
Azad R. Bhuiyan 1,*, Gerri A. Cannon-Smith 2, Sophia S. Leggett 3, Pamela D. McCoy 4, Maria Barvié 5 and Ashley White Jones 6
Azad R. Bhuiyan 1,*, Gerri A. Cannon-Smith 2, Sophia S. Leggett 3, Pamela D. McCoy 4, Maria Barvié 5 and Ashley White Jones 6
1
Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39213, USA
2
Pediatric/PH Consultant, Innovative Health Strategies, Brandon, MS 39043, USA
3
Associate Professor, Department of Behavioral and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39213, USA
4
Senior Prevention Specialist, Mississippi Department of Mental Health Substance Abuse Block Grant, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39213, USA
5
Founder of Interlinguas, Limited Liability Company/Interpreter, Biloxi, MS 39530, USA
6
Assistant Clinical Professor, Division of Education, Mississippi State University, Meridian, MS 39307, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Psych 2019, 1(1), 460-468; https://doi.org/10.3390/psych1010035
Received: 8 May 2019 / Revised: 7 July 2019 / Accepted: 28 August 2019 / Published: 30 August 2019
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Health, Social Psychology and Psychiatry)
Background: The use of mental health services by Latinos is only 7.3%, despite the high prevalence of depression rates of between 27.0% and 38.0% in the United States. Research is limited concerning Latinos’ acculturation status and healthcare coverage on mental healthcare service utilization in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama. Therefore, the objective of this study is to examine the association of acculturation status and healthcare coverage with mental health service utilization in the Latino population. Methods: During 2011–2012, a Latino Community Health Needs Assessment was administered by a trained bilingual interviewer using participants’ preferred language. Four hundred and eleven community members and leaders participated in the study. Acculturation status and self-reported mental health service utilization were retrieved from the survey instrument. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: In multivariate logistic regression that included gender, education level, healthcare coverage, depression, and acculturation status, individuals with a high acculturation score (3–5) were 1.53 times more likely to utilize mental health services compared to those with a low acculturation score (0–2). Individuals with healthcare coverage were 2.75 times more likely to utilize mental health services compared to those with not having healthcare coverage. Healthcare coverage is only a significant determinant of mental health service utilization. Conclusions: This result underscores the importance of having healthcare coverage for the need of mental health service utilization. Future research should consider the impact of acculturation and healthcare coverage on mental health service utilization.
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MDPI and ACS Style
Bhuiyan, A.R.; Cannon-Smith, G.A.; Leggett, S.S.; McCoy, P.D.; Barvié, M.; Jones, A.W. An Analysis of Acculturation Status and Healthcare Coverage for the Needs of Mental Health Service Utilization among Latinos in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama. Psych 2019, 1, 460-468.
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