Double jeopardy, double need for social justice: Chagas disease among Mexican immigrants in the U.S.

• In Event: Social inequalities and health: a case for social justice with a focus on Chagas disease

Abstract

The increasing of Chagas disease in the U.S. have thus far concentrated on surveillance efforts among Latin immigrant but less on structural inequalities that determined their living and health conditions in both their place of origin, and destiny. Through interviews, I explored socioeconomic and health inequalities underlying the experience of Chagas among Mexican immigrants, some of them patients, when living in Mexico and as current residents in Southern California. While coming from endemic areas, participants were never reached by preventive programs about Chagas and access to health care was fairly limited due to lack of service, distance from health units and lack of money. In the U.S., patients knew about Trypanosoma cruzi through organ and blood screening and received medical treatment in the only Center for Excellence for Chagas in the Country. However, access to the Center depends on patient's medical insurance, their qualifications for governmental aid, and place of living since is limited to Los Angeles County. Patients with private medical insurance face obstacles due to lack of knowledge among their primary care physicians, the difficulty to obtain a referral to the Center or to a Cardiologist. For other patients the far distance of the Center, and transportation services were considered a barrier. This study gives a broader insight on Chagas' complexities as a Nuestra America concern due to inequalities that need to be addressed as a matter of social justice in health promotion and care disregarding socioeconomic condition, place of living, and migratory status.

Author

• Alba R Valdez-Tah