%0 Journal Article
%T An Analysis of Language as a Barrier to Receiving Influenza Vaccinations among an Elderly Hispanic Population in the United States
%A William S. Pearson
%A Guixiang Zhao
%A Earl S. Ford
%J Advances in Preventive Medicine
%D 2011
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.4061/2011/298787
%X Background. The Hispanic population in the United States is growing, and disparities in the receipt of healthcare services as a result of limited English proficiency have been demonstrated. We set out to determine if Spanish language preference was a barrier to receiving influenza vaccinations among Hispanic persons 65 years and older in the USA. Methods. Differences in the receipt of vaccinations by language preference were tested with both Chi-square analyses and adjusted logistic regression analyses. Results. Findings suggest that elderly Hispanic persons, 65 years of age and older, who prefer to communicate in Spanish instead of English, are significantly less likely to have received influenza vaccinations when compared to their Hispanic counterparts who prefer to communicate in English. Conclusions. Influenza infections can more often be fatal in older persons and may disparately affect minority populations such as Hispanic persons. Therefore, understanding barriers to the receipt of effective preventive health measures is necessary. 1. Introduction Morbidity and mortality resulting from seasonal influenza infection continues to be a significant concern for residents of the United States, and this is especially true among the country¡¯s elderly population [1]. It is estimated that on average there are over a quarter of a million hospitalizations and approximately thirty six thousand deaths due to seasonal influenza annually [2], and that direct medical costs due to influenza infection average $10.4 billion every year [3]. Vaccinations against influenza are recommended for people who want to reduce the risk of getting influenza or transmitting it to others, and up until 2010, were specifically recommended for at-risk groups, including persons 65 years of age and older [4, 5]. Currently, all persons six months of age and older are recommended annual influenza vaccination [6]. As the U.S. population continues to age and grow, more people, especially vulnerable populations, will be at risk for developing this costly and potentially deadly disease. Recent census data indicate that the fastest growing ethnic group in the United States is Hispanic, with a total estimated population of 43 million persons in 2005 [7]. Projections by the U.S. Census Bureau suggest that by the year 2050, the number of Hispanic persons in the United States will more than double [8]. As the Hispanic population within the United States has increased, Spanish has become the primary language of many Hispanic households in the United States [9]. In fact, in 2006, the U.S. Census
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/apm/2011/298787/