Number of Latinas in Higher Education Continues to Grow


Latina on graduation day

As the US Latino population continues to grow, so does the representation of Latinas. Today, the Latina population has grown at a faster rate than Latino men, with 24% of Latinas making up the total population (compared to a 22% growth for Latino men). With this increase also comes more Latinas in higher education. Latinas have experienced a 52% rise in college degree attainment at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) from 2015 to 2020, according to a new report from Excelencia in Education. In 2020, Latinas earned over 300,000 degrees at HSIs (growth of 52%) compared to 188,000 degrees earned by Latino men at HSIs (growth of 44%). Let’s dive into the growth and numbers of Latinas in higher education. Latina College Enrollment & HSIs As of Fall 2020, almost half ...

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Watch Webinar: The Importance of Diverse Biospecimens and How Can Latinos Donate



When people donate biospecimens—blood, fluid, or tissue samples—it gives researchers the opportunity to better understand, treat, and prevent conditions from cancer to Alzheimer’s. So why don't Latinos donate? Find the answers at UT Health San Antonio's Zoom webinar — “The Importance of Diverse Biospecimens and How Can Latinos Donate” — at 10 a.m. CT on April 5, 2023. The webinar features experts from UT Health San Antonio, Genentech, and leaders and participants in the All of Us Research Program discussing how to increase diverse biospecimen donation and point to donation opportunities. This is a part of a webinar of a series, “Let’s Address Health Equity Together.” The series is a collaboration of the Salud America! program at the Institute for Health ...

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Study: Latinos Are Underrepresented in Racial Equity News


Latinos in racial equity news

Latinos face a variety of inequities that contribute to poor health, including disproportionate rates of police brutality, housing instability, and financial hardship. These inequities are rooted in racially biased systems and structures that foster the unequal treatment of Latinos and other people of color. News institutions play a powerful role in shaping conversations around racial/ethnic equity, but a new study by the Berkeley Media Studies Group (BMSG) in collaboration with UnidosUS shows that Latinos are underrepresented in news coverage on this topic. Let’s explore the implications of Latinos being underrepresented in racial/ethnic equity news, and how to best showcase the contributions, challenges, and needs of Latinos among policymakers, racial equity advocates, and ...

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How Do Germs Spread from Wet and Dry Surfaces?


wet surface

Water is used a lot in healthcare, and in a lot of different ways. For example, water is used in sinks, faucets, ice machines, drains, toilets, and therapy pools. While water is needed in healthcare settings, certain germs, especially some bacteria, can grow on wet surfaces. If you get harmful germs from water and wet surfaces on your hands, they can spread to other surfaces, devices, and people that you touch. These germs can cause illness in some people, like in patients with weakened immune systems. Additionally, if medical instruments and equipment, like devices or central lines, get wet, they can start growing bacteria. That bacteria can then get into a patient’s blood, or other parts of their body, and make them sick. Why Do Germs Grow on Wet Surfaces? Although tap ...

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Why Aren’t Children Eating Enough Fruits and Vegetables?


Child eating vegetables.

Nutritious food is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle for children. However, a February 2023 CDC report shows that many children ages 1-5 are not eating fruits and vegetables daily and are regularly drinking sugary beverages. “In 20 states, more than one half of children did not eat a vegetable daily during the preceding week. In 40 states and the District of Columbia, more than one half of children drank a sugar-sweetened beverage at least once during the preceding week,” according to the CDC. Let’s dive deeper and find out the state of diets among Latinos and all children, the role of healthy food access, and how we can create healthier food environments for children. The State of Children’s Fruit and Vegetable Consumption The new CDC report paints a grim ...

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Why Don’t All Americans Have Paid Sick Leave?


No PSL at work

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of paid sick leave (PSL) policies in the workforce. Unfortunately, 21% of America’s working population still does not have access to PSL three years after the initial COVID-19 outbreak, according to Change Lab Solutions. Here’s why PSL continues to be so important, and how advocates can work toward achieving local, state, and national PSL policies that promote the health of Latinos and all people. What Does Paid Sick Leave Look Like in America? Shockingly, the US is one of only three high-income countries in the world without any form of national paid sick leave, according to Change Lab Solutions. The need for PSL for all Americans is stronger than ever, especially as government leaders end various pandemic-era public ...

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What Does ‘Food Equity’ Look Like in Your Neighborhood?


Food equity

A nutritious diet is essential for good health. But many vulnerable populations, such as Latinos, struggle to access and afford healthy food. To help, we need to know where to start. Fortunately, a new tool, the Food Equity Opportunity Map, highlights healthy food access issues across the country to show where improving access would make the greatest impact. “Together, we can build community health through improving Food Equity, but only if we first understand where that work is most needed. That’s why we launched the Food Equity Opportunity Map,” according to the creators of the map, Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), a national nonprofit organization focused on health equity, and the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Mapping Food Equity and Food ...

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#SaludTues Tweetchat 4/4: Are Latinos Fairly Represented in Racial Equity News?


latino racial equity news

Latinos face a variety of inequities that contribute to poor health, including disproportionate rates of police brutality, homelessness, and financial hardship. These inequities are rooted in racially biased systems and structures that foster the unequal treatment of Latinos and other people of color. News institutions play a powerful role in shaping conversations around racial/ethnic equity, but representation of Latinos in news coverage on this topic is disproportionately low. Let’s use #SaludTues on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, to discuss the underrepresentation of Latinos in racial/ethnic equity news coverage and how to best showcase contributions, challenges, and needs of Latino communities among policymakers, racial equity advocates, and the general public.  WHAT: ...

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The State of Latino Sleep


Woman having trouble sleeping.

The average adult should sleep about 7-10 hours a day. But a person may get more (or less) sleep depending on the season, according to a recent study from researchers in Berlin, Germany. “Even in an urban population experiencing disrupted sleep, humans experience longer REM sleep in winter than summer and less deep sleep in autumn,” according to a news release about the sleep study. “In general, societies need to adjust sleep habits including length and timing to season, or adjust school and working schedules to seasonal sleep needs.” This begs a few questions. What other factors impact sleep? Are Latinos affected differently? Let’s explore the topic of sleep for Latinos, why it’s important, and factors that can impact it! Sleep Can Differ Between Races and ...

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