UniMovil: MHC Providing Primary Care to Colonias Rio Grande Valley TX
Manusov, Eron G.; Diego, Vincent P.; Smith, Jacob; Garza, Jesús R. 2nd; Lowdermilk, John; Blangero, John; Williams-Blangero, Sarah; Fernandez, Francisco
Why this matters
Prevalence data from colonias can show whether service capacity matches the level of need. Among residents seen by a mobile unit in two South Texas colonias, 55.5 percent had obesity, 39 percent hypertension, 32.5 percent diabetes, and 19 percent depression, and depression predicted every domain of health-related quality of life.
Abstract
Background: We describe a mobile unit (UniMóvil) designed to improve poor healthcare access delivery to residents in two South Texas underserved Colonias. The interprofessional team measured seven clinical outcomes and assessed health-related quality of life. Results include a high prevalence of obesity (55.5%), hypertension (39%), diabetes (32.5%), and depression (19%), gender differences, and inter-Colonia differences. Depression predicted all 11 domains of the health-related quality of life. Conclusion: The prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and depression remains epidemic. Mobile clinics increase access and address highly prevalent illnesses in the Colonias. The data collected can be used to address chronic disease and quality of life, focus care, and direct research in high-need underserved areas.