Posts Tagged ‘Health’
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) released a study last week restating what has been said before, that Latinos continue to fall behind in terms of access to health care. While health care disparities have lessened for other people of color compared to whites, treatments for diabetes, mental illness and tuberculosis, as well as dental and preventative care, were just some of the areas in which disparities for Latinos were increasing. According to the National Center for Policy Analysis:
Officials say they cannot identify the reasons for the gaps in health care for Latinos. Carolyn Clancy, director of AHRQ, says that a language barrier might contribute to the disparities, adding that she did not know the extent to which illegal immigration plays a role.
As a Latina I can say that language, immigration status, as well as disparities in income all play a role as to why nuestra gente still are not getting the health care they need and deserve.
Via / National Center for Policy Analysis
More to Obesity…
5 Dec 2005
Despite its obvious sizzle, scapegoating junk food isn’t the answer; better school nutrition and less fast food is not the panacea for this public health crisis. A big part of the problem is that many children have very few options after school to do anything other than sit in front of television or computer screens or hang out on their neighborhood streets.
I’ll be the first to admit that it’s very easy to blame the fast food industry and junk food in general for the obesity epidemic that this country is facing. Perhaps there is more to the problem. Who would’ve thought that the socioeconomic condition of some children has a direct effect on whether they are obese and suffer from health illnesses later in their lives. Parents have to take some responsibility but how much is really deserved. Take for instance so called latchkey kids who are home alone because their parents are still away at work when they arrive from school. How can you really blame parents for that when they are trying to make ends meet.
Approximately 5 million children under the age of 12, most of them African-American or Latino, living in poor neighborhoods, spend their time after school home alone. The result is a host of potential problems that compromise their healthy development — social, intellectual, and physical — into adulthood. Among these problems is childhood obesity, which is of epidemic proportions among America’s African-American and Latino children, 9 million of whom are now obese.
High Demand for Minority Caregivers
5 Dec 2005
It seems that no matter what part of the country you are located, there is a huge demand for health professionals to help meet the diverse needs of the U.S. population.
According to the San Bernardino County Sun, minorities “…hold the majority of all chronic disease statistics,” yet they are the minority among health care professionals.
This disparity has to change in order to adequately meet the needs of all patients. The question then is how will the health community recruit more minorities into the health profession? The interesting thing is that this recruiting effort must go beyond simply hiring more minorities, and an effort must be made to recruit individuals that have an understanding of language and cultural differences.
Among the Latino population, language is one of many barriers to health care. One in four is uninsured and one in seven has Type II diabetes.
Word en la Calle
9:04 pm By Maegan La Mala · Word en la calle · Comments Off
2 Dec 2005
A new Friday feature on VL, Word en la Calle lets everyday Latinos voice their thoughts and opinions on topics of interest to the community.
Name:
Sonia Carranza
Age:
29
Location:
Central Valley (California)
Profession:
Registered Health Inspector/ Lead Inspector Assessor
Roots:
Mexico. Parents are from Guanajuato
Languages:
English and Spanish
What does it mean to you to be Latino/a?
It’s all about the culture. We have a big united family with all day gatherings every Sunday at my mom’s house. It also means to believe in Santos, Reyes Magos, brujas and lloronas.
What does your work consist of?
I conduct inspections at public water systems, food facilities and pools, also respond to sewage, mosquito, and trash complaints. I am also responsible for conducting lead investigations for children who have elevated blood lead levels throughout the county. Unfortunately most of the cases are Latino/Spanish speaking. The lead contamination is mostly due to lead based paint which is found in many homes that are in bad condition.
What health concerns affect the Latino community?
Some of the health problems that come to mind are diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Well, the first two are a result of the third.
Politics: (Example: middle ground, far right, far left, etc.)
left
In your opinion, are Latinos united or divided as a group?
I think it’s a combination of the two in the sense that Latinos are united along nationality lines and at the same time that’s what divides us.
Favorite musical style:
Mostly Rock en Español and Alternative music.
Favorite TV Shows:
Gilmore Girls.
Favorite artists in any genre:
Julieta Venegas, Mana, Juanes, and Ricardo Arjona.
Favorite brand names:
Lucky Brand Jeans and anything worth buying at Ross and Marshall’s.
Who have been or are your role models?
My Parents (jefecitos) have been my role models. They managed a family of 13 kids working as farmworkers. Their fortitude inspired us to do well in education. I’m proud to say that there are six college graduates in my family.
The Latino Happiness Bonus
23 Nov 2005
My friend Oso tipped me off to a very interesting article — about happiness of all things — which highlights research that suggests Latinos are happier than non-Latinos:
One of the most intriguing finds to come out of the research so far is that Latin Americans consistently rank happier in life-satisfaction surveys than would otherwise be expected, given that many in the region live in poverty. In an in-depth study of 120,000 people in 82 nations, the World Values Survey found what one researcher dubbed “the Latino bonus.”"
Anybody Care for Goat Meat?
4:02 pm By Maegan La Mala · business|Food · 5 Comments
22 Nov 2005
Whenever I visit Mexico one of the first things I do is stop at a restaurant and eat a plate of birria, goat meat stew served with salsa, lime and onions. In Mexico, and in many Latin American countries, consuming goat meat is common place but it has yet to catch on here in the states but the growing diverse communities of the state of California and the rest of the U.S. is starting to change that.
The demand for goat meat in the U.S. is increasing due to the demand by Latinos, Muslim and Asian communities. Haitians for example prepare their goat meat specialty called Cabrit Fricasse, with tomato paste, garlic, bell pepper and lime. Just the name sounds delcious.
Who would’ve known that a food that many Latinos love can be healthy. Even Whole Foods is catching on this hot commodity and selling the meat in some of their stores.
A 3-ounce serving of roasted goat has about the same calories as an equivalent portion of chicken, but almost a gram less fat. It has the same amount of protein as beef, and about 10% more iron.
Via / LA Times
Novela Star Wants to Better the Wellness of Mujeres (But is there a mixed message?)
8:00 am By Maegan La Mala · Celebrities|Health|TV · Comments Off
14 Nov 2005
The National Alliance for Hispanic Health (NIHH) knows that Latinas regardless of language watch novelas. That is why they have brought novela estrella Gabriela Spanic on board as their spokesmujer for their “Mejorando Tu Vida” campaign.
The campaign features an exercise video, led by la Spanic herself, and isn’t just about losing weight, according to a press release sent out by the NIHH. The videos and website also promote healthy eating, exercise, and other wellness habits. The aim is to show Latinas, who are labeled as high risk for obesity and diabetes, that a healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to be a chore and can be easily integrated into daily routines
The videos can be ordered online or by telephone.
Although VL hit on Breast Cancer Awareness a little while ago, it’s time to do so again. Still in the middle of Breast Cancer Awareness month, this Friday, October 21, is National Mammography Day.
I would like to take this moment to encourage our female readers to make that appointment this week. If you are in need of free/low cost services, check the NBCCEDP site.
As we mentioned in our previous post, the Latino community is way behind on awareness, so there is a lot of catching up to do.
Ways you can help: donate time or money to the cause, participate in an event such as Race for the Cure, and encourage friends and family members to perform self-exams and get mammographies.
Breast Cancer Resources:
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
National Cancer Institute
Susan G. Komen Foundation
Y-Me
This Saturday is National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD), but it’s worth it to talk about it now. Events are occurring across the country for the rest of this week. The events include HIV testing and counseling, vigils, exhibits, festivals, and other activities. Find out what’s going on in your area.
Love Yourself. Protect Yourself. Get Tested for HIV.
This year marks the 3rd year that NLAAD is observed, with the purpose of spreading awareness and educating on prevention to the Latino community. The events and the people working at them should all be bilingual, so that the message can reach both English and Spanish speakers.
Via / NLAAD
The Health Crisis
It seems that everywhere I turn lately, I’m encountering more and more articles telling me that the Latino population is in big trouble when it comes to Health. The topics range from lack of medical insurance to obesity. And as a result of these issues, even bigger problems arise.
According to a recent HispanicBusiness article:
Among California Latinos, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain types of cancer, account for 56 percent of all deaths. In addition, 40 percent of California Latino adults are overweight and 29 percent are obese.
A recent study conducted in Washington, D.C. tells us:
The findings show only 41 percent of Latino residents have health insurance, about 32 percent have not seen a doctor in more than two years and 61 percent of the respondents were overweight or obese.
Possible Reasons
I’ve been following similar health issues in Mexico, and dietary change was being blamed for a big portion of the obesity and diabetes.
Hola!
VivirLatino is a daily publication published by Mamita Mala Media, dedicated to featuring all the latest politics, culture, entertainment of interest to the diverse Latin@ diaspora.
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