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Catherine Wilson

Catherine Wilson is a digital content curator for Salud America! and its home base, the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio. She is a graduate of the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland College Park, and hopes to utilize her skills to help people find their voices and inspire change in their communities.

Articles by Catherine Wilson

Get Moving Toward a Healthier You!


Family walking in the park

Physical inactivity is one of the leading risk factors for many diseases, including cancer, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).   Physical inactivity has a 25.3% prevalence in the US, where about 60% of adults say they are physically inactive as of 2020, according to the CDC.  That’s why the CDC launched a campaign to get people moving.  Active People, Healthy Nation is striving to help 27 million Americans be more physically active by 2027 and getting 10 million adults and 2 million young people to meet the minimum aerobic physical activity guideline.  Salud America! is stepping up to help by partnering with the initiative's Moving Matters campaign to get the word out.  Let’s dig into some of the short-term and long-term benefits of regular physical ...

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What New Immigration and Education Policies Mean for Latino Families


Young hispanic student smiling happy wearing a backpack at the university.

Latinos have endured generations of systemic inequities due to racism and discrimination.  Over the years, institutions, structures, and policies have given rise to gaps in housing, income, education, and more, which lead to higher risk for diseases like cancer.  Even though these disparities persist, policymakers are pushing for change.   On July 17, 2024, the Biden White House announced several new policies to expand opportunities for Latino communities, including increasing access to higher education.  Let’s investigate some of these policies and how they endeavor to help Latinos.  Increasing Educational and Economic Gains Through Hispanic-Serving Institutions  More than 500 Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs) that span across 27 states, the District of Columbia, ...

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What Do Latinos Think about Preventative Care?


Doctor examining woman's neck with mole or birthmark using magnifying glass

Cancer continues to be a leading cause of death in Latinos.   Systemic racism and discrimination have led to disproportionate exposure to risk factors for cancer, such as obesity, diabetes, and stress.  These risk factors are compounded by the social and economic inequities such as access to healthy foods, transportation, and health insurance that many Latinos face, making it difficult to seek healthcare, culminating in worse health outcomes.   Another big factor is driving worse health for Latinos – a lack of preventative care.   64% of Latinos skipped recommended health screenings, such as colonoscopies, pap smears, mammograms, and more, according to a news release about the second annual Wellness Matters Survey published by Aflac.  Let’s unpack the survey ...

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#SaludTues Tweetchat 9/3/24 — Creating Better Cancer Outcomes for Latinos


Male Nurse Talking With Female Patient In Hospital Room

Cancer is one of the leading causes of deaths for Latinos.  Cases of Latino cancer are expected to rise by 142% in the coming years.   How can we address this?  Ahead of Hispanic Heritage Month, we are bringing attention to Latino cancer care inequities. Let’s use #SaludTues on Sept. 3, 2024, to explore the racial/ethnic inequities in cancer prevention, screening, care, and treatment, as well as share ways – from clinical trial diversity to patient advocacy to survivor support – we can create better cancer outcomes for Latinos.  WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat “Creating Better Cancer Outcomes for Latinos”  WHERE: Twitter/X  WHEN: 1-2 p.m. ET (12-1 p.m. CT), Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024  HOST: Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio ...

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Many Latinos Face Inequities in Post-Stroke Care


Caregiver helping disabled older woman

An estimated 795,000 Americans suffer a stroke each year, amounting to one stroke every 40 seconds, according to the Stroke Awareness Foundation.   Every 4 minutes, someone dies from a stroke, according to the American Stroke Association.   Due to racial/ethnic disparities that affect many Latinos, stroke is the fourth-leading cause of death in Latino men and the third for Latina women.   Stroke is also a top cause of serious, long-term disability.  The Stroke Awareness Foundation found that within 5 years of a first stroke, 25% of survivors will face another, complicating health for more than 7 million survivors.   This makes access to care critical, especially for Latinos, who often lack health insurance.   However, Latinos were less likely than their peers to ...

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Analysis: US Poverty Higher in Latino Populated Cities



Latinos now make up 19.5% of the US population.  Counties in California, Florida, and Texas are home to some of the largest Latino communities in the nation.  However, a recent Axios analysis found that poverty rates are also higher within many of these areas.  US Census Bureau 2022 5-year estimates show that 10 of the largest Latino communities have a poverty rate that’s 50% higher than the national average (12.5%).  Let’s break down the numbers and how they relate to the health equity of Latinos.  Analysis Findings on Poverty  Axios conducted an analysis of 10 census-designated places that had at least 100,000 residents with a high percentage of Latinos.  Based on the collective data, the outlet determined that the average rate of poverty for Latinos in these ...

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Protect You and Your Familia by Staying Up to Date on COVID-19 and Flu Vaccines



With the summer winding down and school right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about checking all the items off your to-do list before school is back in session.   Start the fall season on the right track by prioritizing the health of you, your family, and everyone around you by making sure you’re up to date on your vaccinations.   That’s why Salud America! is partnering with Champions for Vaccine Education, Equity and Progress (CVEEP) to remind you about the importance and benefits of being vaccinated.   To promote vaccination updates, CVEEP, convened by the Alliance for Aging Research, HealthyWomen, and the National Caucus and Center on Black Aging, is raising vaccine equity awareness by providing vaccine education and resources.  Let’s examine ...

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Over Half of US Latinos Consume News in English



Latinos make up 19.5% of the US population, which equates to 65 million people.  As of 2023, about 75% of Latinos living in the US speak Spanish, 17% speak English, and over half (54%) of the Latino population in the US fall somewhere on the bilingual spectrum.     Despite Spanish being the second-most spoken language in the US, a new report by the Pew Research Center found that found that 54% Latino adults get their news in English.   Let’s explore the news media habits of US Latinos further.  Latino News Consumption by Language  While 54% of US adult Latinos receive news in English, the rest consume news in mostly Spanish (21%) or in both languages (23%), according to the report.   When it comes to preferability, 51% of Latino adults prefer news in English, 24% ...

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US Latino Population Rises to 19.5%



Latinos continue to be one of the fastest growing populations in the US.   Between 2022 and 2023, Latinos accounted for 71% of the population growth in the US, according to new data from the US Census Bureau.   Latinos now make up 19.5% of the country’s population.   The rise, occurring at an annual growth of 1.8% and attributed to a large number of births, makes Latinos the second largest racial/ethnic group in the US.    Let’s unpack some of the statistics and what they mean for the future of Latinos.  US Latino Population Growth  In 2023, the Latino population grew by 1.16 million for a total of 65 million.   Latinos contributed significantly to the overall population growth in the US, which increased by 1.64 million.  “The Hispanic population is ...

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