Equity in Health Care Access, Utilization, and Experiences for Latino Children in California by Parental Citizenship and Household Language, 2021–22

Abstract

Objective

This study examines health care access, utilization, and experiences among Latino children in California by parental citizenship and household language.

Methods

Merged data from the 2021–22 California Health Interview Survey and the follow-up Latino Youth Health Study of the same years were analyzed. Primary outcomes were parental reports of children’s health care access, utilization, and experiences in the past year. The main predictors were variables stratified by parental citizenship status (both citizen parents vs 1 citizen and 1 noncitizen parent or both noncitizen parents) and household language (English-only vs English-and-Spanish, or Spanish-only). Multivariable analyses were adjusted for parental education, family income, parent-reported child’s health status, child’s age, and child’s insurance.

Results

Findings showed no significant differences in health care access across groups. However, children with both noncitizen parents and from Spanish-only households were more likely to have had well-child visits and general doctor visits than children with both citizen parents and in English-only households. Additionally, parents of children with both noncitizen parents were more likely to feel respected by doctors than those with both citizen parents. Conversely, compared to parents with both citizen parents, parents of children with 1 citizen and 1 noncitizen parent were less likely to report that doctors spent enough time with their children and less likely to express high satisfaction with their children’s health care.

Conclusions

Patterns of health care access, utilization, and experiences among Latino children in immigrant families in California are improving, which are likely associated with recent inclusive health policies in the state.