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Health Status of Mexican-Origin Persons: Do Proxy Measures of Acculturation Advance our Understanding of Health Disparities?

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Abstract

Objectives This paper compares select health status indicators between the U.S. and Mexico, and within the Mexican-origin population using proxy measures of acculturation. Methods Statistical data were abstracted and a Medline literature review conducted of English-language epidemiologic articles on Mexican-origin groups published during 1976–2005. Results U.S.-born Mexican-Americans have higher morbidity and mortality compared to Mexico-born immigrants. Mexico has lower healthcare resources, life expectancy, and circulatory system and cancer mortality rates, but similar infant immunization rates compared to the U.S. Along the U.S.-Mexico border, the population on the U.S. side has better health status than the Mexican side. The longer in the U.S., the more likely Mexican-born immigrants engage in behaviors that are not health promoting. Conclusions Researchers should consider SEP, community norms, behavioral risk and protective factors when studying Mexican-origin groups. It is not spendingtime in the U.S. that worsens health outcomes but rather changes in health promoting behaviors.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge funding from the University of Maryland’s Other Tobacco Related Diseases Grant (Maryland cigarette restitution funds), Dr. Elizabeth Arias for her helpful review and comments, and the thorough research assistance of Vanessa Lopes in the completion of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Maryland College Park School of Public Health, 1240D HHP Bldg., College Park, MD, 20742, USA

    Olivia Carter-Pokras

  2. 9509 Saginaw Street, Silver Spring, MD, 20901, USA

    Olivia Carter-Pokras

  3. Department of Women’s Studies, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, USA

    Ruth E. Zambrana

  4. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico

    Gillermina Yankelvich

  5. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Maria Estrada

  6. Pan American Health Organization, Washington, DC, USA

    Carlos Castillo-Salgado

  7. School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Alexander N. Ortega

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  1. Olivia Carter-Pokras
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  2. Ruth E. Zambrana
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Correspondence to Olivia Carter-Pokras.

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Carter-Pokras, O., Zambrana, R.E., Yankelvich, G. et al. Health Status of Mexican-Origin Persons: Do Proxy Measures of Acculturation Advance our Understanding of Health Disparities?. J Immigrant Minority Health 10, 475–488 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-008-9146-2

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