Cross-border purchase of medications and health care in a sample of residents of El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

Abstract

Background: We examined data from a US-Mexico bi-national survey conducted among adult residents of El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, to assess frequency of purchase of medications and use of health care services across the border.

Methods: We analyzed questionnaire data from face-to-face interviews of 1000 randomly selected adults on both sides of the border to assess prevalence and prevalence ratios using log binomial logistic regression analysis.

Results: One-third of adult residents of El Paso and 5% of those in Ciudad Juarez reported crossing the border to purchase medications (P < .001). Lack of health insurance in the United States was associated with crossing the border to purchase medications. Nine percent and 7% of US residents traveled to Mexico seeking dental and medical care, respectively. Mexican nationals traveling to the United States to purchase medications or health care services were more likely to be uninsured and more-educated men.

Conclusion: US residents of areas along the border in close proximity to Mexico often travel south to purchase medications. Other health care services are also utilized, although at lower rates. These patterns may be attributed to a number of barriers to health care in the United States.