In Colorado, Latinas and their families have higher rates of some

diseases than other groups. These differences in health status are

known as “health disparities”. Health disparities are caused by a

number of factors, including lack of culturally proficient healthcare

services, language barriers, lack of access to a regular source of

medical care, and lack of health insurance. The Colorado Organization

for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR) and the Colorado

Consumer Health Initiative partner with Latinas and their families to

improve the health of the Latino community and to overcome the barriers

to good health.

The Consumer Health Initiative will be hosting a panel to discuss

health disparities in Colorado on Thursday May 18th from 3:00 to 4:30

p.m. at The Colorado Trust, located at 1600 Sherman, Denver, in

the Sabin Room. This panel discussion is open to the public and will

examine health disparities among women, racial and ethnic groups, the

gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered community, and rural communities. 

A 2005 report from the Office of Health Disparities showed that Latinas

are more likely than women of other races or ethnicities to have

cervical cancer, and they are more likely to die from cervical cancer

than other women. Studies show that Pap screening tests reduce cervical

cancer deaths. The higher death rate among Latinas is due in part to

not having access to regular Pap smears.

Latinas also continue to have higher rates of teen pregnancy. While

pregnancy rates for teens in other racial and ethnic groups have been

declining since 1992, the rate for Latinas has not. About 8 percent of

Latina teens became pregnant in 2002, compared to the state average of

about 2.5 percent. In addition, Latinas, along with African American

women, have higher rates of perinatal deaths. Perinatal death is

defined as the death of a baby near the time of birth, or shortly after

birth. This is partially because fewer Latinas and African American

women have access to regular prenatal care.

Latinos are also more likely than any other racial or ethnic groups to

die from diabetes. In fact, the death rate for Latinos with diabetes is

almost twice as high as the state average. Latinos in Colorado also

have the highest death rate from chronic liver disease, which is more

than twice as high as the state average.