ABSTRACT
The first national estimate of health care utilization among Hispanics by national origin was produced in 1984 from data gleaned in the National Health Interview Survey of 1978-1980. The findings revealed that overall, non-Hispanic white, black, and Hispanic populations experienced an almost equal number of physician visits per person per year, 4.8, 4.6, and 4.4 visits, respectively. When examined by national origin, however, Hispanic groups differed significantly in their use of physicians. Mexican Americans averaged fewer visits to a physician—3.7—than other whites and blacks, while Puerto Ricans and Cuban Americans averaged more visits—6.0 and 6.2 visits, respectively. With the exception of the relatively small number of persons who have public health insurance other than Medicare and Medicaid, Mexican Americans were found to be the least likely to have ever had a routine physical exam, followed by Cuban Americans and Puerto Ricans.
