Editorial: Human rights and inequity in health access of Central American Migrants

Frontiers in Public Health is very pleased to publish this journal issue focusing on the health access of immigrants. Contributions to this journal issue include five articles that rely on different methodologies while focusing on diverse geographic world regions and target populations. This editorial summarizes these features while also highlighting the unique contributions of each article

Health Through a Human Right Lens at the US-Mexico Border: Increasing Access to Healthcare for Central American Immigrants

The number of immigrants seeking entry into the U.S. through asylum requests or through irregular means is increasing, and most come from the Northern Triangle of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Immigrants come fleeing extreme poverty, violence, health and social inequities, and drastic climate changes. Most had limited access to healthcare at home, and even more limited care along the journey. Those that are allowed entry into the U.S., are confronted with feeling unwelcome in many communities, having to navigate an array of local, state, and federal laws that regulate access to healthcare. We need immigration policies that preserve the health, dignity with a multinational policy for provision of healthcare through a human rights lens from point of origin to point of destination

Psychological status of Hispanic and non -Hispanic mothers of mentally retarded and mentally ill children

This study provided a cross-sectional, multivariate description of variables influencing the mental health of mothers of dually diagnosed (mentally retarded and mentally ill) children. Twenty-nine mothers of children with mental retardation and mental illness participated in this study. Fifteen were African-American and 13 Hispanic; one identified herself as both. Mothers ranged in age from 24 to 80 and averaged 47 years of age. The average chronological age of the children was 15.59 years old. Sixty-two percent of the children were male (n = 18) and 38% were female (n = 11). The average verbal, performance and full scale IQ\u27s of the children were 59.94, 63.74, and 59.68, respectively. Participants completed a Demographic Data Form and four scales measuring situation-specific distress levels (Brief Symptom Inventory), opinions and attitudes about mental illness (Opinions About Mental Illness Scale), levels of social support (Inventory of Socially Supportive Behaviors), and level of acculturation to American society (Short Acculturation Scale). Data on the children was collected from clinic records, including Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale scores, IQ scores, psychiatric and medical diagnoses, and medication. Hispanic mothers obtained a mean score suggesting a moderate degree of acculturation to mainstream American culture. However, they clearly preferred their own culture with regard to language and ethnic loyalty, media preferences, and ethnic social relationships. Scores on the BSI were identical to a comparison group of non-psychiatric adults, with the exception of the Paranoid Ideation Symptom Dimension score, which was statistically but not clinically significant. Scores on the Inventory of Socially Supported Behaviors suggested the mothers received slightly higher than average levels of support during the preceding month. Participant scores on the Opinions About Mental Illness Scale ranged from a mean of 12.10 on the Interpersonal Etiology Subscale to a mean of 45.21 on the Unsophisticated Benevolence Subscale. Data analyses suggest a significant positive correlation between the mothers\u27 Global Severity Index of the BSI and the childrens\u27 Full Scale IQ. In addition the GSI was also found to be positively related to scores on the Interpersonal Etiology subscale of the OMI. Possible explanations and implications for servicing this high-need population are discussed

Why Culture and Context Matters: Examining Differences in Mental Health Stigma and Social Distance Between Latino Individuals in the United States and Mexico

This study examines the influence of cultural context on social distance and perceptions of stigma towards mental health conditions among Latino populations in Houston, TX, USA and Mexico City, Mexico. We employed a community-based experimental vignette survey to assess perceptions towards individuals experiencing symptoms of alcohol misuse, depression, and psychosis. Participants (n = 513) from Houston and Mexico City were asked about their willingness to accept community members experiencing mental health symptoms in various social roles, their perceptions of stigma related to these symptoms, anticipated danger, possible positive outcomes, and the community member’s ability to change. Findings demonstrate significant differences in stigma perceptions between Latino respondents in the US and in Mexico. Houston participants reported lower public stigma and perceived dangerousness of someone with mental health concerns compared to respondents in Mexico City. Furthermore, the cultural context may influence the association between various dimensions of stigma, with some inverse relationships occurring based on location of data collection. Findings illuminate the complex interplay between cultural context, mental health symptoms, and stigma, and underscores the need for culturally nuanced interventions to reduce mental health stigma and promote service utilization in Latino communities

Ethical Considerations in Global Mental Health Research: Lessons Learned From Binational U.S.–Mexico Collaborations

Binational research is critical to better understand the health, mental health, and health outcomes of immigrant communities. Binational studies are often difficult to conduct, however, due to cost, challenges with participant recruitment and data collection, lack of appropriate cross-cultural instruments, and challenges ensuring ethical reviews and approval in both counties. This research note discusses ethical issues navigating institutional review board (IRB) procedures while striving to maintain the highest ethical protection for participants when engaging in binational behavioral sciences research between México and the United States. We discuss the need to clarify requirements for international research between México and the United States and navigating differences that may exist or emerge between IRBs in México and the United States. We provide some recommendations to assist researchers in ensuring IRB approval for their research protocols and ethical protection for their participants