Objective: To identify the strategies used by Mexican migrants to access health services in the U.S. and Mexico.
Materials and methods: Ethnographic study in five Mexican states, selected by their migration dynamics. A series of focus groups and in-depth interviews were conducted with health services users and providers.
Results: Six strategies were identified and are used according to the severity of the disease: a) self-medication, b) telephone consultation with relatives, c) utilization of private services, d) travel to border towns, e) return to place of birth, f) getting medical care during their visits to places of origin.
Discussion: The health care options used by Mexican migrants and their families are defined according to events related to the migration process. The implementation of public policies to protect the health of migrants on both sides of the border is critical.