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Jin Young Choi, MS, MA, MPH, Department of Sociology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2424 Maile way, Saunders Hall 247, Honolulu, HI 96822, 808-956-7693, jbyon@hawaii.edu
Most immigrants face problems in accessing health care services in the U.S. Their relatively low socio-economic status, low health insurance coverage, and several cultural factors, including language, have been identified as critical barriers in their access to health care. Social capital, defined as a “non-monetary social asset,” has recently received attention in the health area due to its beneficial functions on health outcomes. It seems to be a useful concept to understand the dynamic and complex natures of health care among immigrants, particularly among those who have limited financial resources and cultural competence. This study addresses how social capital works in accessing health care services among poor immigrants, using recent Korean immigrants to Hawaii as its cases. Methods: Recent Korean adult immigrants to Hawaii, who are uninsured and have limited financial resources, were selected as participants through purposive snowball sampling. The rich and detailed information on the experiences of the immigrants in accessing health care were obtained from focus group interviews and individual in-depth interviews. Results: The results of the data analyses showed the importance of limited financial resources and cultural competence to the accessing of health care and these were mediated by social capital among Korean immigrants. Korean immigrants who have high social capital were more likely to access to health care. Social capital worked as a potential social resource for Korean immigrants, providing various types of benefits such as information assistance and multidimensional supports, and facilitating their access to health care.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation the audience should be able to
Keywords: Access to Health Care, Immigrants
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.