Socioeconomic Barriers to Health Outcomes in Hispanic Populations Impact by Fentanyl along the Texas-Mexico Border
Main Article Content
Keywords
Texas-Mexico Border, Socioeconomic Status, Hispanic, Health Disparities, Fentanyl, Social Determinants of Health
Abstract
This literature review explores the socioeconomic barriers to health outcomes among Hispanic populations affected by fentanyl along the Texas-Mexico border. The region’s unique binational context exacerbates vulnerabilities through poverty, limited healthcare access, cultural and linguistic barriers, and a growing fentanyl crisis. Key themes include the interplay of health disparities, socioeconomic influences, and fentanyl’s devastating public health impact. Findings highlight how poverty, lack of education, and limited insurance access perpetuate substance use vulnerabilities and restrict healthcare utilization. Community health initiatives, such as promotoras (community health workers) and telehealth interventions, demonstrate promise in addressing these disparities. Policy recommendations emphasize culturally sensitive care, expanded healthcare access, harm reduction strategies, and addressing root socioeconomic causes. By integrating socioeconomic considerations into public health and policy interventions, this review underscores the urgent need for targeted, community-based solutions to improve health equity and mitigate fentanyl’s devastating consequences in this vulnerable population.
References
2. Burkhalter N, Walker SS, Davis M, Flynn A. Integrating primary, Behavioral and Spiritual Health Care to Improve Patient Outcomes. Journal of Behavioral Health and Psychology. 2021;10(4). doi:https://doi.org/10.33425/2832-4579/21033
3. Ghaddar S, Brown CJ, Pagán JA, Díaz V. Acculturation and Healthy Lifestyle Habits among Hispanics in United States-Mexico Border Communities. Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública. 2010;28(3). doi:https://doi.org/10.1590/s1020-49892010000900009
4. Prophete L. Barriers to Medication Adherence in the Hispanic Population. fpuscholarworks.fresno.edu. Published 2018. Accessed January 7, 2025. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Barriers-to-medication-adherence-in-the-Hispanic-Prophete/da707abb2afa3fdaea4353f1331c777aeaba22b3
5. Talavera-Garza L, Ghaddar S, Valerio M, Garcia C. Health Care Access and Utilization among Hispanic Manufacturing Workers along the Texas-Mexico Border. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved. 2013;24(2):656-670. doi:https://doi.org/10.1353/hpu.2013.0072
6. Bastida E, Brown HS, Pagán JA. Persistent Disparities in the Use of Health Care along the US–Mexico Border: an Ecological Perspective. American Journal of Public Health. 2008;98(11):1987-1995. doi:https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2007.114447
7. Diaz FC, Osuna-Salazar EN, Robledo C, Machiorlatti M, Sarhill N, Kwang H. Trends and Variations in Female Breast Cancer along the Texas-Mexico Border Trends and Variations in Breast Cancer along the Texas-Mexico Border. Cancer Research. 2020;80(4_Supplement):P6-1104-P611-04. doi:https://doi.org/10.1158/1538-7445.sabcs19-p6-11-04
8. Nesbitt S, Palomarez RE. Review: Increasing Awareness and Education on Health Disparities for Health Care Providers. Ethnicity & Disease. 2016;26(2):181-190. doi:https://doi.org/10.18865/ed.26.2.181
9. Anderson J, Demeter N, Pasquires M, Wirtz S. Using the CA Opioid Overdose Surveillance Dashboard to Track Opioid Overdose Deaths. Online Journal of Public Health Informatics. 2019;11(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.5210/ojphi.v11i1.9938
10. Vuocolo B, Sierra R, Brooks D, et al. Reducing Time to Diagnosis of Rare Genetic Diseases in a Medically Underserved Hispanic Population- Lessons Learned for Meaningful Engagement. Research Square (Research Square). Published online December 13, 2023. doi:https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3699740/v1
11. Mata H, Provencio-Vasquez E, Martinez J, De Santis J. HIV Risk Knowledge among Hispanic Adults in a U.S. – Mexico Border Community. Californian Journal of Health Promotion. 2014;12(1):88-94. doi:https://doi.org/10.32398/cjhp.v12i1.1559
12. Geographic Disparities in Diabetes-Related Amputations—Texas-Mexico Border, 2003. JAMA. 2007;297(10):1051. doi:https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.297.10.1051
13. Calip GS, Hoskins KF, Guadamuz JS. Examining the Associations among Treatment Declination, Racial and Ethnic Inequities, and Breast Cancer Survival. JAMA Network Open. 2024;7(5):e249402. doi:https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.9402
14. Robles A, Bashashati M, Contreras A, et al. Colorectal Cancer in Hispanics Living near the U.S. - Mexico Border. Revista De Investigacion Clinica. 2019;71(5). doi:https://doi.org/10.24875/ric.19003026
15. Li C, Mou J. Ethnic Disparities in the Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Testing Positivity Comparing Hispanic and non-hispanic Populations. Big Data. Published online April 1, 2022:2977-2977. doi:https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.20.s1.2977
16. Chow DS, Glavis-Bloom J, Soun JE, et al. Development and External Validation of a Prognostic Tool for COVID-19 Critical Disease. Ashkenazi I, ed. PLOS ONE. 2020;15(12):e0242953. doi:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0242953
17. Ramirez AG, Chalela P, Rowan S, et al. Avanzando Caminos (Leading Pathways): the Hispanic/Latino Cancer Survivorship Cohort Study. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. 2023;32(12_Supplement):B044-B044. doi:https://doi.org/10.1158/1538-7755.disp23-b044
18. Flores BE, Guerrero J, Bobadilla R, Craven CK. Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Screening and Treatment in South Texas US-Mexico Border Persistent Poverty Counties. Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention. 2023;32(12_Supplement):IA045-IA045. doi:https://doi.org/10.1158/1538-7755.disp23-ia045
19. Bowman BA, Vinicor F. Toward Prevention and Control of Type 2 Diabetes: Challenges at the U.S.-Mexico Border and beyond 1 | Scholars Portal Journals. Scholarsportal.info. Published 2025. Accessed January 7, 2025. https://journals.scholarsportal.info/details/15451151/v02i0001/nfp_tpacotatubab.xml
20. Gareis CE, Hunter P, Leader A. The Impact of the Promotoras Program on knowledge, attitudes, and Cervical Cancer Screening among Hispanic/Latina women: Rapid Review. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. 2023;32(1_Supplement):B023-B023. doi:https://doi.org/10.1158/1538-7755.disp22-b023
21. Shiels MS, Berrington de González A, Best AF, et al. Premature Mortality from All Causes and Drug Poisonings in the USA According to Socioeconomic Status and rurality: an Analysis of Death Certificate Data by County from 2000–15. The Lancet Public Health. 2019;4(2):e97-e106. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/s2468-2667(18)30208-1
22. Angell SY, Cetron MS. Health Disparities among Travelers Visiting Friends and Relatives Abroad. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2005;142(1):67. doi:https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-142-1-200501040-00013
23. Fisher-Hoch SP, Vatcheva KP, Rahbar MH, McCormick JB. Undiagnosed Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes in Health Disparities. Kirchmair R, ed. PLOS ONE. 2015;10(7):e0133135. doi:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0133135
24. Bencomo-Alvarez AE, Nhim V, Alvarado L, et al. Effects of race, ethnicity, and Country of Origin on Incidence and Survival in Breast Cancer. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. 2023;32(1_Supplement):C066-C066. doi:https://doi.org/10.1158/1538-7755.disp22-c066
25. Bauer C, Zhang K, Lee M, et al. Census Tract Patterns and Contextual Social Determinants of Health Associated with COVID-19 in a Hispanic Population from South Texas: a Spatiotemporal Perspective. JMIR Public Health and Surveillance. 2021;7(8):e29205. doi:https://doi.org/10.2196/29205
26. Spierling SR, Savin KL, Soriano EC, et al. Process evaluation of Dulce Digital-Me: an adaptive mobile health (mHealth) intervention for underserved Hispanics with diabetes. Translational Behavior of Medicine. Published online April 3, 2023. doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibad020
27. Borkowski P, Borkowska N, Shaunak Mangeshkar, Adal BH, Singh N. Racial and Socioeconomic Determinants of Cardiovascular Health: a Comprehensive Review. Curēus. Published online May 2, 2024. doi:https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.59497
28. Ramirez FG, Alvarado L, Dwivedi A, Chacon J. Immunotherapy Treatment disparities: a TCR Analysis of Patients with Cutaneous Melanoma. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. 2023;32(12_Supplement):B051-B051. doi:https://doi.org/10.1158/1538-7755.disp23-b051
29. Jones BA, Eger W, Suttiratana S, et al. Abstract S12-06: Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Barriers as Predictors of Intent to Vaccinate for COVID-19 in a Vulnerable Population. Clinical Cancer Research. 2021;27(6_Supplement):S12-06S12-06. doi:https://doi.org/10.1158/1557-3265.covid-19-21-s12-06
30. Chandhok NS, Shrestha A, Watts JM, Bradley T, Sekeres MA. Outcomes for Hispanic Patients with Acute Leukemia Treated at Academic Centers. Blood. 2021;138(Supplement 1):2282-2282. doi:https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2021-151250
31. Ramirez AG, Munoz E, Holden AEC, Adeigbe RT, Suarez L. Incidence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Texas Latinos, 1995–2010: an Update. Mehta AS, ed. PLoS ONE. 2014;9(6):e99365. doi:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0099365