Abstract
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.
Highlights
Hispanics/Latinos are the largest and fastest growing minority population in the United States (US).The United States Census Bureau projects that this population is expected to double from 53.3 million in 2012 to 128.8 million in 2060 [1]
411 participants, 34.4% were from Mississippi (MS), 32.9% were from Louisiana (LA), and 32.7% were from Alabama (AL)
Healthcare coverage is the strongest predictor for the need for mental health services (MHS) utilization supported by previous studies
Summary
Hispanics/Latinos are the largest and fastest growing minority population in the United States (US).The United States Census Bureau projects that this population is expected to double from 53.3 million in 2012 to 128.8 million in 2060 [1]. Psych 2019, 1 census questionnaire (Mexican, Argentine, Cuban, Colombian, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Costa Rican, Guatemalan, Honduran, Nicaraguan, Panamanian, Salvadoran, Bolivian, Spanish American, Chilean, Ecuadorian, Paraguayan, Peruvian, Uruguayan, and Venezuelan) This minority group has seen steady population growth in the southern tri-states: Mississippi, from 1.4% to 2.9%; Louisiana, from 1.7% to. 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. 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. 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). Future research should consider the impact of acculturation and healthcare coverage on mental health service utilization
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
