Use of self-care by Hispanics: culture, access or need?

Hispanics have often been depicted as being avid users of traditional self-care who are skeptical of the formal health care system. This study used descriptive statistics and multiple regression analyses to examine the self-care practices of Mexicans and Puerto Ricans living in Chicago. The findings provide evidence that Hispanics are not excessive users of self-care and underutilizers of formal medical care. Though both groups used non-prescribed-home-treatments, they did so at rates comparable to those reported for the general population.