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Low Health Literacy among Immigrant Hispanics

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Abstract

Low health literacy is a significant barrier to healthcare access and service utilization; however, there are few studies that have evaluated the factors associated with having low health literacy, especially among immigrant minority populations. This exploratory study aimed to assess the key determinants of low health literacy among immigrant Hispanic adults in California using the California Health Interview Survey, the largest population-based state health survey in the United States. Analysis accounted for complex survey design, allowing generalizations to the entire state of California. Low health literacy was associated with living in poverty (OR = 1.63), lacking consistent health insurance (OR = 1.40), and limited English language proficiency (OR = 3.22), while women were less likely than men (OR = 0.59) to report low health literacy. The results of this study demonstrate that language proficiency, in addition to other key sociodemographic variables, can significantly posit limitations to health literacy. Future efforts should address providing linguistically competent health literacy interventions in order to improve associated health outcomes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Allied Health Professions, Loma Linda University, 24951 N. Circle Dr. Nichol Hall A518, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA

    Benjamin J. Becerra

  2. Department of Health Science and Human Ecology, California State University, San Bernardino, 5500 University Parkway, San Bernardino, CA, 92407, USA

    Devin Arias & Monideepa B. Becerra

Authors
  1. Benjamin J. Becerra
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  2. Devin Arias
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  3. Monideepa B. Becerra
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Correspondence to Benjamin J. Becerra.

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Becerra, B.J., Arias, D. & Becerra, M.B. Low Health Literacy among Immigrant Hispanics. J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities 4, 480–483 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-016-0249-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-016-0249-5

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