Eric Moreno is a Content Curator with the Salud America! program at UT Health San Antonio. He specializes in covering the topics of health equity and family and social support. He holds a BA from the University of Texas at San Antonio and an MA from Gonzaga University.
A new study, soon to be published in Obstetrics & Gynecology, has shown that the number of women in Texas dying from pregnancy complications have inexplicably doubled. The study’s authors don’t speculate as to what the causes for this startling trend are, but the trend seems isolated to the Lone Star State. One trend noted by the study’s authors was the possible linkage toward the increase in maternal mortality rates and the Texas Legislature’s decrease in funding to family planning agencies in 2011. Vital statistics personnel in Texas and at the National Center for Health Statistics couldn’t determine that there was a correlation between the two incidences. In order to reduce health disparities, it is critical to address inequities in programs, practices, and ...
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded more than $100 million to over 1,300 health centers across the United States to invest in health center quality improvement. The centers will use these funds to “expand current quality improvement systems and infrastructure.” The centers will use the funds to improve systems and infrastructure as well improve some of the primary care services they deliver in their communities. “Millions of Americans rely on health centers to provide them with quality health care,” said Dr. Mary Wakefield, HHS Acting Deputy Secretary. “These quality improvement awards will support health centers to continue to deliver superior health care that engages patients, improves care coordination and bridges overall access to ...
Being the new kid in school is always tough, from finding friends to adapting to new teachers and homes. More than 6.5 million students nationwide are frequently the “new kid,” and studies have shown that Latino, black, and lower-income students have the highest rates of student mobility, which refers to students changing schools during the middle of any given school year for any other reason besides matriculation. Frequently, student mobility is detrimental to children's social and academic development, according to data collected by the University of California, Santa Barbara. Understanding this data can also help put them on a path toward academic achievement. “To be sure, multiple moves are a dangerous signal, but even one move increases the [student’s] risk of not ...
Since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010, the number of uninsured people in the United States has declined by an estimated 20 million. The percentage of people without health insurance has also fallen to an historic low. Despite these monumental gains, there are still 24 million people lacking health insurance. The largest number of these individuals are still Latinos. Using data from the Commonwealth Fund Affordable Care Art Tracking Survey to examine the characteristics of the remaining uninsured adults to determine the reasons they for not enrolling in the marketplace plans or Medicaid. Prior to the ACA, people most at risk of being uninsured were those that didn’t have coverage through their place of employment. Latinos and other racial and ethnic ...
A new study published in Genome Biology found that despite significant health disparities, Latinos age at a slower rate than individuals of other ethnicities. Researchers used 18 sets of data from DNA samples of nearly 6,000 people that representing seven different ethnicities, including two African groups, African-Americans, Caucasians, East Asians, Latinos and an indigenous people genetically related to Latinos called the Tsimane. “Latinos live longer than Caucasians, despite experiencing higher rates of diabetes and other diseases,” Steve Horvath, lead author and professor of human genetics at the David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, said in a news release. “Our study helps explain this by demonstrating that Latinos age more slowly at the ...
According to a report by the National Women’s Law Center, the gender wage gap can cost Latinas up $1 million over a 40 year career in some states. The report breaks down the gender wage gap by state and found that, in 2014, Latina women earned between $.54 and $.55 for every $1 that their white male counterparts did. “A big driver of the wage gap is the gap in opportunities that push Latinas … into different occupations than white men,” said Emily Martin, vice-president for workplace justice at NWLC. “Latina women and African American women are over-represented in low-wage jobs, for example, and under-represented in high-paying occupations like law and engineering,” Latina women lose more than $1 million over their careers in 23 different states, including the District ...
Being the new kid in school is always tough, especially when it happens in the middle of the school year. Finding new friends, adapting to new teachers and rules, adjusting to a new home, all are part of a difficult transition that many kids face. According to figures collected by the University of California, Santa Barbara, more than 6.5 million students nationwide are frequently the “new kid,” and it is frequently detrimental to their social and academic development. More and more studies are being done on student mobility and it suggests that this is a key indicator in identifying vulnerable students. Understanding this data can also ensure that they stay on a path toward academic achievement. “To be sure, multiple moves are a dangerous signal, but even one move ...
The city of Columbus, Ohio (6% Latino population), unveiled the city's newest bike trail, the Camp Chase Trail, in early August of 2016. The trail connects some of the city’s busiest streets for bikers and will provide much needed access to city streets. “It's a great trail that will absolutely connect the neighborhoods together,” said Chris Haydocy, president of Haydocy Automotive group and Weston Vision, a West Side economic and community development organization. “This trail really cuts across the heart of the West Side. It should have a direct and powerful impact on all these communities.” The trail is a notable development as it reflects the Columbus’ progress on an issue that metro areas across the nation are currently struggling with: transit equity. Cities that ...
Low-income families that are fortunate enough to find affordable housing, thus alleviating a potential financial and mental and physical stresses that can lead to long-term health problems. However, finding and maintaining a home is only part of the overall bigger picture. Energy costs also take up large amounts of low-income families’ expenses. A new plan from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) could save low-income Latino families as much as $300 annually on utility bills. According to recent information from the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC), families living in affordable housing tend to spend 30% of their overall income on housing costs. Latino families confront a variety of challenges when seeking out and gaining affordable housing, including discrimination, ...
