Addressing disparities in accessing hearing health care in a U.S. Mexico Border community
Hearing loss has a major impact on the quality of life among older adults. In population-based studies, 90-96% of Mexican-American adults with hearing loss do not have access to hearing healthcare. To begin to reduce this health disparity, we used a community-based participatory research approach to investigate unmet needs of families affected by hearing loss in a rural, predominately Mexican-American community on the U.S.-Mexico border. We utilized the community health worker (CHW) model as a means to address cultural aspects that might impact access to hearing health care. CHWs are individuals from the community who serve as intermediaries between health professionals and patients…
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