Abstract
This study employs semi-structured interviews conducted in two small migrant towns in Michoacán, Mexico to determine how older Mexicans with diabetes access healthcare and treatment. Barriers in access to healthcare services are identified as well as how family members and migration are utilized to offset these limitations. Results indicate that former migrants who were economically successful in the USA have greater options in the type of services they are able to use. In addition, residents with diabetes who have family members living in the USA receive remittances in the form of money and medical supplies that aid in the treatment of their illness. Implications for policy are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Albarran, N. B., Ballesteros, M. N., Morales, G. G., & Ortega, M. I. (2006). Dietary behavior and type 2 diabetes care. Patient Education and Counseling, 61, 191–199.
Asocacíon Mexicana de Bancos de Alimientos. (2006). ¿Quien somos? http://www.amba.org.mx/directorio_bancos.html last accessed 1-25-2007.
Bacardí-Gascón, M., Garay, P. R., & Jiménez-Cruz, A. (2004). A diabetes intervention program of physical activity carried out at primary care settings in Mexico. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 68, 135–140.
Barraza, M., Bertozzi, S., Gonzlez, E., & Gutiérrez, J. P. (2002). Addressing inequity in health and health care in Mexico; Mexico’s healthcare system shares the problems of incrementalism with its neighbor to the north. Health Affairs May/June.
Barry, T. (1992). Mexico: A Country Guide. Albuquerque, NM: The Inter-Hemispheric Education Resource Center.
CIA World Fact Book. (2007). Economic Overview-Mexico, https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/mx.html Last accessed 1-25-2007.
Collier, D., Mahoney, J., & Seawright, J. (2004). Claiming too much: Warnings about selection bias. In H. E. Brady & D. Collier (Eds.), Rethinking social inquiry: Diverse tools, shared standards (pp. 85–102). Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
Daniulaityte, R. (2004). Making sense of diabetes: Cultural models, gender and individual adjustment to type 2 diabetes in a Mexican community. Social Science & Medicine, 59, 1899–1912.
Federación Mexicana de Diabetes. (2006). Los números de la diabetes en México, http://www.fmdiabetes.org/www/diabetes/dnumeros.asp#Mexico Last accessed 1-25-2007.
Frank, R. (2005). International migration and infant health in Mexico. Journal of Immigrant Health, 7(1), 11–22.
Gakidou, E., Lozano, R., Gonzalez-Pier, E., Abbott-Klafter, J., Barofsky, J. T., Bryson-Cahn, C., et al. (2006). Assessing the effect of the 2001–06 Mexican health reform: An interim report card. The Lancet, 368, 1920–1935.
Garay-Sevilla, E., Nava, L. E., Malacara, J. M., Huerta, R., Díaz de León, J., Mena, A., et al. (1995). Adherence to treatment and social support in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications, 9, 81–86.
Ham Chaude, R. (2003). El envejecimiento en Mexico: el siguite reto de la transición demográfica. Mexico: El Colegio de la Frontera Norte.
Ho, P. M., Rumsfeld, J. S., Masoudi, F. A., McClure, D. L., Plomondon, M. E., Steiner, J. F., et al. (2006). Effects of medication nonadherence on hospitalization and mortality among patients with diabetes mellitus. Archives of Internal Medicine, 166, 1836–1841.
INEGI. (2008). Informacion estadistica>temas> sociodemografia>seguro social. http://www.inegi.gob.mx/inegi/default.aspx?s=est&c=124. Last accessed 1-15-2008.
Kandel, W., & Massey, D. S. (2002). The culture of Mexican migration: A theoretical and empirical analysis. Social Forces, 80(3), 981–1004.
Lerman, I., Lozano, L., Villa, A. R., Hernández-Jiménez, S., Weinger, K., Cabellero, A. E., et al. (2004). Psychosocial factors associated with poor diabetes self-care management in a specialized center in Mexico City. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 58, 566–570.
Lozano-Ascencio, F. (1993). Bringing it back home: remittances to Mexico from migrant workers in the United States. Monograph Series 37. Center for US Mexican Studies: UCSD.
Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1994). An expanded sourcebook: Qualitative data analysis (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Munck, G. L. (2004). Tools for qualitative research. In H. E. Brady & D. Collier (Eds.), Rethinking social inquiry: Diverse tools, shared standards (pp. 105–122). Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
Ramírez Cuevas, J. (2006). Viable, la pension universal para adultos mayors, Masiosare 1-22-2006.
Rivera, J. A., Barquera, S., Campirano, F., Campos, I., Safdie, M., & Tovar, V. (2002). Epidemiological and nutritional transition in Mexico: Rapid increase of non-communicable chronic disease and obesity. Public Health Nutrition, 5(1A), 113–122.
Rivera, J. A., Barquera, S., Gonzalez-Cossio, T., Olaiz, G., Sepulveda, J. (2004). Nutrition transition in Mexico and in other Latin American countries. Nutrition Review, 62(7), S149–157.
Rull, J. A., Aguilar-Salinas, C. A., Rojas, R., Rios-Torres, J. M., Gomez-Perez, F. J., & Olaiz, G. (2005). Epidemiology of type 2 diabetes in Mexico. Archives of Medical Research, 36(3), 188–196.
Valenzuela, G. A., Mata, J. E., Mata, A. S., Gabali, C., Gaona, E., Thom, D., et al. (2003). Knowledge and beliefs regarding type 2 diabetes mellitus in rural Mexico. Ethnicity & Health, 8(4), 353–360.
Acknowledgments
This research was sponsored in part by the Andrew M. Mellon Foundation and the National Research Service Award from the National Institutes of Health (AG000270). The author would like to thank Dr. Jorge Zea for his assistance in the fruition of this research.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Salinas, J.J. Tapping Healthcare Resource by Older Mexicans with Diabetes: How Migration to the United States Facilitates Access. J Cross Cult Gerontol 23, 301–312 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10823-008-9076-4
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10823-008-9076-4