Folic acid has long been linked to a healthy pregnancy. In fact, pregnant women who consume a folic acid vitamin and folate-rich food have lower risk of their babies experiencing major neural tube birth defects of the brain (anencephaly) and spine (spina bifida). More than 300,000 neural tube birth defects happen every year in the U.S. Latinas face a higher risk. They also have lower knowledge about the benefits of folic acid, along with lower folic acid consumption compared to women from other racial/ethnic groups. To celebrate National Folic Acid Awareness Week (January 7-13), let’s tweet with #SaludTues on Jan. 7, 2020, to spread the importance of folic acid among Latinas and all mothers-to-be. WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: Why Folic Acid is Important for Latina and ...
Latino children are less likely to have their vision tested compared to their peers. From 2016 to 2017, only 58.6% of Latino children ages 3 to 5 had taken a vision test from a health professional, according to new CDC data. "Childhood vision screenings may provide early detection of vision disorders and opportunities for subsequent treatment," the authors say.
Latino Eye Health Risk Factors
In addition to Latino disparities, screening rates also were affected by differences in socioeconomic status, parental education, and healthcare access: Children living in families with incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level were about 10% less likely to have their vision tested.
Children whose parents had the equivalent of a high school diploma or less were almost 20% less ...
Over 12 million U.S. babies, toddlers, and preschoolers spend time in child care. Are you aware of how pricey that child care is? The price of child care is sky-high almost everywhere, but certain families face inequities and pay even more depending on where they live, according to the new report from Child Care Aware. California (39.3% Latino) is home to the most expensive center-based infant care. Families here pay 17.6% of their annual income. Nebraska (11.2% Latino) is home to the most expensive family child care. Families here pay 14% of their annual income. Low-income families should spend no more than 7% on child care, according to federal guidelines. "Every family should be able to access affordable and high-quality child care. Yet this is not currently the case, ...
Every kid needs physical activity and active spaces for healthy growth. But physical inactivity has increased 10% in rural and low-income communities, according to a new study. Rural children have higher risks for obesity than kids living in cities—and rural children of color are at the most risk. This is where Play Streets comes in. Play Streets are place-based interventions that temporarily close a public area to create safe places for physical activity. This engages kids and families, gets people active, and promotes community connections. Now researchers from Baylor University and Johns Hopkins University has released their Guide to Implementing Play Streets in Rural Communities. Using first-hand experience, the guide teaches local groups, ...
Latino kids have higher childhood obesity rates than their peers at nearly all age groups, according to a new report. For example, the newest data show Latino kids ages 10-17 have higher obesity rates (19%) than their white (11.8%) and Asian (7.3%) peers. They also have higher rates than the nation (15.3%), but lower rates than black kids (22.2%). The new stats are part of a bigger report, the State of Childhood Obesity: Helping All Children Grow up Healthy from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). It highlights big data on childhood obesity, with policies and stories to drive change. “These new data show that this challenge touches the lives of far too many children in this country, and that Black and Hispanic youth are still at greater risk than their White and Asian ...
Who is your hero? Well, Salud Talks’ is Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, the director of Salud America! and it's home, the Institute for Health Promotion Research in the Department of Population Health Sciences at UT Health San Antonio. Despite being one of the busiest people in this field, Dr. Ramirez joins us for a discussion on public health, the Latino community, and why both topics influence everyone. Check out this discussion on the #SaludTalks Podcast, Episode Seven, "Public Health's Wonder Woman"! WHAT: A #SaludTalks discussion on public health and the Latino community
GUESTS: Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, director of Salud America! and it's home, the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio
WHERE: Available wherever fine podcasts are downloaded, ...
More teens in Mexico feel distracted and addicted to their mobile devices than in other countries, according to a new study. With 67% of the U.S. Latino population hailing from Mexico or having Mexican heritage, this addiction could complicate life here, too, say researchers from USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and Common Sense. “Parents today are facing unprecedented challenges navigating both their children’s and their own mobile device use," said USC Annenburg Dean Willow Bay, in a news release. "We’re seeing that in Mexico, for example, over half of parents feel their teen’s mobile device use has negatively impacted family meals, conversations and activities.”
The New Normal: Parent, Teens, and Mobile Devices in Mexico
The study surveyed more ...
Nine U.S. states had adult obesity rates above 35% in 2018, up from seven states at that level in 2017, an historic level of obesity in the U.S., according to the new State of Obesity report by Trust for America's Health. In 2012, no state had obesity rates over 35%. This alarming rise is even worse among Latinos. Data indicate that 47% of Latino adults and 25.8% of Latino children had obesity—the highest combined obesity rate among all racial/ethnic groups. "These latest data shout that our national obesity crisis is getting worse,” said John Auerbach of Trust for America's Health. “They tell us that almost 50 years into the upward curve of obesity rates we haven’t yet found the right mix of programs to stop the epidemic."
Alarming Rise in Obesity Rates
The State of ...
Organizations who offer reproductive services in areas with limited options for low-income Latinas and other women of color are dealing with a new Trump administration rule that can limit clinics' access to federal funding, making it harder to offer affordable care to women, NBC News reports. The "gag rule," named because advocates say it hinders a doctor's ability to provide the care they think is best, went into effect August 2019. The rule states that family planning services that get Title X federal funding must also be financially detached from any abortion services. Abortion and Title X services also must take place in separate facilities. However, federal law already forbids taxpayer funds to be used for abortions, excluding cases of rape, incest, or to save the woman's ...
