Degree Name

Department

Neuroscience

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Defense Date

2020-06-05

Publication Date

2020-06-17

First Faculty Advisor

Renata Forste

First Faculty Reader

Michael Cope

Honors Coordinator

Valerie Hegstrom

Keywords

Hispanic, Immigrant, Utah County, Healthcare, Prenatal Care

Abstract

This thesis examines four barriers that may inhibit Hispanic immigrant women from receiving care in Utah County, including language, insurance, documentation, and education. Six clinics in Utah County were contacted to determine how the services they provide account for these barriers. Nine Hispanic women were then interviewed about their experience with prenatal care in Utah County with respect to the four barriers. Interpretation services were offered by each clinic, though none of the women interviewed used professional interpretation—either their husbands translated, or they met with a Spanish-speaking doctor. Every clinic accepted insurance and Medicaid, while one clinic had a flexible payment plan, and none of the clinics required proof of documentation. Three of the women used Medicaid to pay for their prenatal care, and in every case, insurance was a deciding factor in choosing a healthcare provider. Only one prenatal class was found to be offered in Spanish and each of the nine women expressed that they wished they had known more about prenatal care or the healthcare system before pregnancy. Further research needs to be conducted, and Utah policy makers and health care providers should prioritize overcoming these barriers.