Examining perceived barriers to healthcare access for Hispanics in a southern urban community

Abstract

Background: Disparities in healthcare access among Hispanics in the U.S. continue to rise as a result of contextually based social determinants of health. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceived barriers to primary healthcare access among Hispanics residing in an underserved, urban region of Louisville, Kentucky.
Methods: Guided by critical ethnographic methods, twenty participants were interviewed using a descriptive survey and semistructured interview guide to assess perceived access barriers. Descriptive and analytic coding, and content analysis techniques were used to identify emerging categories, concepts and themes.
Results: Persistent barriers to healthcare access were related to time and availability, healthcare personnel and patient-provider communication; documentation; limited income and health insurance coverage; and, discrimination and cultural barriers.
Conclusions: Findings inform healthcare systems by identifying the subjective and socially constructed barriers to healthcare access and promoting programs and policies to eliminate access barriers for Hispanics.