The 11 million persons who reside in the border area (62.5 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico international line) experience some of the highest rates of poverty, lowest levels of educational attainment in the U.S. and more than 30% of the families live at or below the poverty level. An estimated three million residents are uninsured. If made the 51st State, the border area would rank last in per capita income and last in access to health care. Cultural values and beliefs, lack of knowledge of resources and eligibility requirements, language, poverty and citizenship status contribute to the inequality in accessing care at the U.S.-Mexico border. We present a model for preparing interdisciplinary students (nursing, pharmacy, public health, medicine, social work and nutrition) to provide interventions that are congruent with the beliefs, values, and practices of residents in a rural border community. Promotoras (lay health workers) are central to the model and facilitate student cultural self-awareness, provide social support, and build student cultural self-efficacy; necessary elements to decreasing barriers to accessing care for this population. See www.pharmacy.arizona.edu/idtraining/index.html
Learning Objectives: Identify three Hispanic cultural values that effect access to care for the U.S.-Mexico border population. Articulate critical components of a curriculum that prepares students to provide interventions that are congruent with the beliefs, values, and practices of residents in a rural border community. Identify the contributions of promotoras to health professions students educational preparation.
Keywords: Access to Health Care, Students
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Interdisciplinary Training for Health Care in Rural Areas Department of Health & Human Services Training Grant No. 5D36 AH 10033
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.