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El Semanario
Posted on 05-11-2006
Latinas and health disparities
COLOR
COLOR
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.
The problem of health disparities among Latinos is well documented, but
solutions are complex. One solution is increasing access to health care
so that more Latinas and their families have health insurance and a
regular source of care. Another solution is to strengthen the network
of clinics and hospitals that can provide care to uninsured Latinos. In
addition, hospitals and clinics must ensure that services are available
in Spanish, and that providers understand cultural issues that impact
Latinas and their families. In addition, the state must make more
effort to recruit Latinos/as into medical professions. These
inequalities are preventable; Latinas and all Coloradans must work
together to ensure that Latinas and their families have an equal
opportunity to be healthy.
Colorado Consumer Health Initiative is a non-profit organization that
works to ensure equal access to health care for all Coloradans. For
more information about the Consumer Health Initiative, call (303)
839-1261 or send an e-mail to inform@cohealthinitiative.org. Colorado
Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR) is
a grassroots non-profit organization led by Latinas to act as a team
with Latinas and their families. COLOR uses education and advocacy
activities to ensure that Latinas and their families have the
knowledge, freedom, and power to make informed decisions about their
bodies.
For more information about Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights COLOR call 303-393-0382 or send an email message to info@colorlatina.org.
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