Use of preventive health services by Hispanic/Latino women in two urban communities:: Atlanta, Georgia and Miami, Florida, 2000 and 2001

Purpose: During the 1990s, a 58% increase in the Hispanic/Latino population, fueled by the century's largest immigration wave and the highest fertility of any group, resulted in Hispanics becoming the largest U.S. minority group. To assess use of preventive services by Hispanics in Atlanta, Georgia, the largest Hispanic new destination, and Miami, Florida, the largest established Hispanic community in the Southeast, survey data were analyzed. Methods: Miami-Ft. Lauderdale and Atlanta metropolitan area data from the 2000 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and from anonymous surveys conducted at health festivals in Miami and Atlanta in 2001 were analyzed. Results: Female non-Hispanic white and black NHIS respondents were more likely than Hispanic counterparts to report annual household income >$20,000 (77.3%, 70.8% vs. 67.7%), usual source of healthcare (61.5%, 56.4% vs. 50.2%), or ever having had Pap screening (88.8%, 86.7% vs. 80.7%) or oral contraceptive use (55.7%, 59.7% vs. 33.7%). Miami-Ft. Lauderdale Hispanics were less likely than Atlanta respondents to be monolingual Spanish speakers, to lack usual source of healthcare, or to have less than 12 years of education. Of 295 female health festival respondents, the 160 Miami participants were more likely than Atlanta participants to have health insurance, monthly income >$1000, and prior Pap screening (p<0.01) but less likely to have used contraception (p=0.07). Most Hispanics felt they had inadequate healthcare; 15.0% reported being denied healthcare because of inability to pay. Conclusions: Low income, uninsured status, and language barriers were associated with lower use of preventive services among Hispanics in these Southeastern communities, particularly Atlanta, a new destination.