A new study suggests that despite popular perceptions, illegal immigrants from Latin American countries are 50 percent less likely to use hospital emergency departments than U.S.-born Latinos, a finding echoed by other studies which also find lower health system participation rates by this population. The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, analyzed data from 42.044 participants in a 2003 health survey conducted by UCLA and the California Department of Public Health. The study found that ED usage was lower even when adjusted for age, health status, insurance status and poverty level. The researchers also found that illegal immigrant Latinos were 30 percent less likely than U.S.-born Latinos to have a regular source of healthcare.
To find out more about the study:
- read this piece from the Los Angeles Times
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