Chronic Pain and Psychological Distress Among Undocumented Latinx Immigrants in the USA (Journal of General Internal Medicine)
Summary: Undocumented immigration is often accompanied by multiple and complex stressors, which over time may increase the risk for chronic pain. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of chronic pain and its association with psychological distress among undocumented Latinx immigrants in the USA. Authors used respondent-driven sampling to collect and analyze data from clinical interviews with 254 undocumented Latinx immigrants, enabling inference to a population of 22,000.
Authors conducted logistic regression analyses to assess the association between chronic pain and psychological distress after controlling for age, years in the USA, and history of trauma.
Findings: A total of 28% of undocumented Latinx immigrants reported having chronic pain, and 20% of those had clinically significant psychological distress. Significant differences in the prevalence of chronic pain were reported across age groups, years in the USA, and trauma history. After controlling for relevant covariates, chronic pain was significantly associated with psychological distress and history of trauma. Among undocumented Latinx immigrants, chronic pain is significantly associated with psychological distress, older age, and trauma history. Given that undocumented immigrants have restricted access to health care and are at high risk for chronic pain, developing alternatives to facilitate access to chronic pain interventions and risk-reduction prevention are needed.
This article refers to a related policy brief, Undocumented and Uninsured: Barriers to Affordable Care for Immigrant Population.
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