Faculty Publications

Networks Matter: Male Mexican Migrants' Use Of Hospitals

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Healthcare, Hospitals, Mexico, Migrants, Social networks

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Population Research and Policy Review

Volume

31

Issue

3

First Page

321

Last Page

337

Abstract

Using the behavioral model for health care use and unique data from the Mexican migration project, we explore the factors associated with hospital use among Mexican male migrants to the US. Twenty-eight percent of the respondents reported receiving healthcare from a hospital. In addition to established enabling factors of time in the US and English language ability, this research points to the importance of family social networks as enabling hospital health care use among migrants. Migrants with more ties to family members with migration experience have an increased likelihood of using emergency room healthcare. The research adds to the body of literature by providing evidence that ties to individuals with US migration experience increases migrants' probability of accessing healthcare at hospitals. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

Department

Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology

Original Publication Date

6-1-2012

DOI of published version

10.1007/s11113-012-9233-x

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