From the Guidelines
We do not know enough about the specific challenges and needs of immigrant Latino caregivers of children with special healthcare needs, and there are significant gaps in our understanding of their healthcare navigation experiences, language barriers, cultural beliefs, and access to resources. The existing literature highlights the importance of cultural competence in healthcare, with studies such as 1 emphasizing the need for awareness about health conditions and access to healthcare services among Latino populations. However, these studies do not specifically address the needs of immigrant Latino caregivers of children with special healthcare needs.
Some of the key areas where knowledge gaps exist include:
- Healthcare navigation experiences and language barriers beyond basic translation
- Cultural beliefs about disabilities and access to culturally appropriate resources
- Mental health impacts and legal status influences on care-seeking behaviors
- Long-term outcomes for both caregivers and children
- Effective support systems and how unique cultural perspectives influence care management
While research has documented some general barriers like language difficulties and healthcare system complexity, as noted in 1 and 1, we lack detailed knowledge about how these families make healthcare decisions and what support systems are most effective for them. The intersection of immigration status with caregiving responsibilities creates additional complexities that remain understudied, and addressing these knowledge gaps is crucial for developing targeted interventions and support systems that could effectively address the unique challenges faced by this vulnerable population. Understanding these aspects would be crucial for healthcare providers and policymakers to better serve immigrant Latino families caring for children with special healthcare needs, as emphasized by the need for culturally competent care and clear communication in clinical encounters 1.
From the Research
Knowledge Gaps Regarding Immigrant Latino Caregivers of Children with Special Health Care Needs (SHCN)
- There is a lack of research on the specific barriers faced by immigrant Latino caregivers of children with SHCN, including the role of cultural values and beliefs in accessing healthcare services 2, 3.
- Limited data are available on the differences in access to healthcare among major Latino subpopulations, and few studies have focused primarily on barriers as perceived by Latino parents 2.
- The impact of immigration status, duration of parent residency in the United States, and acculturation on access to healthcare for Latino children with SHCN is not well understood 2.
- There is a need for more research on the experiences of immigrant Latino caregivers, including their perceived unmet needs, expectations of providers, and challenges in navigating the healthcare system 4, 3.
- Cultural influences on health care use, including differences in perceived unmet needs and expectations of providers, are not well understood and require further study 3.
- Barriers faced by immigrant families of children with autism, including cultural beliefs about child development and ASD, delayed diagnosis, access to services, and negative perceptions of services, are not well addressed in existing research 5.
- A conceptual framework is needed to explain the primary care access barriers faced by immigrant communities, including immigrant Latino caregivers of children with SHCN 6.