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Study: Latinos Suffered Big Losses in Health Coverage, Care Amid COVID-19



Racial/ethnic disparities in health insurance coverage and healthcare access worsened during the pandemic, according to a new study in the journal Geospatial Health.  The study found Latinos and African Americans were the most affected populations.     “Our results suggest that loss of insurance coverage and reduced access to health services deepened inequities in an already uneven healthcare landscape, particularly for African American and Hispanic/Latino populations,” according to the study researchers.  Let’s dive into what the data found and what this means for Latinos.   How Did COVID-19 Impact Healthcare for Latinos?  Study researchers – from CDC, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public ...

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Help South Texas Researchers Learn More About Sleep Disturbance



Do you get the recommended 7-10 hours of sleep a night?   Insufficient sleep and poor sleep quality contribute to the development and management of many health issues, from diabetes to heart disease, according to the CDC.   Researchers at UT Health San Antonio and their partners are studying sleep disturbances among blood cancer patients and comparing effectiveness of two wellness-based mobile apps to help improve sleep.   The Reducing Sleep disTurbance in Cancer (REST-C) study, also called the Heme Study, is a clinical trial that is currently recruiting adults diagnosed with blood cancer and experiencing sleep disturbance. A clinical trial is a study that helps researchers learn more about how different treatments and interventions can be used to help slow, manage, and ...

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Giving Birth in Cars: The Reality of Rural America’s Maternal Health Crisis


maternal healthcare struggles

Implications of the lack of quality maternal healthcare in the United States are well documented. Pre-term birth rates are rising, maternal mental health is suffering, and maternal mortality remains high, especially in women of color. Women living in rural areas are hit even harder by these implications, as indicated by a new March of Dimes report on maternity care deserts. Let’s explore just how much living in a rural area matters when it comes to maternal health, and how we can work to improve maternity care in underserved rural areas. Maternity Care Deserts in Rural Texas Counties Maternity care deserts make up 36% of all US counties, according a 2022 March of Dimes report. These maternity care deserts contribute to the US having the highest maternal mortality rate ...

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Clinical Trials Bring Researchers Closer to Long COVID Treatments


long covid

Most people with COVID-19 get better within a few days to a few weeks after COVID-19 infection. But some people, including many Latinos, develop long COVID. Long COVID remains an unresolved threat to the health of Latinos and all people. While health experts don’t yet fully understand long COVID symptoms and risk factors, progress is being made regarding treatment. Let’s learn more about how researchers are working to find the most effective therapies for long COVID through research studies and clinical trials. Relieving the Burden of Long COVID Symptoms The National Institutes of Health (NIH) launched the RECOVER research study in 2021 to learn why some people experience long COVID or develop new or returning symptoms after COVID-19 infection. Now, based on ...

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DIY Testing Kits for HPV Could Help Reduce Cancer Disparities Among Latinas


DIY HPV testing

Latinas suffer a high burden of cervical cancer, which is often caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). In fact, Latinas have the second-highest rate of dying from cervical cancer after Black women, according to the US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). Cervical cancer screening – commonly referred to as a Pap smear – can help reduce this disease burden. However, Latinas and other women of color face numerous barriers to cervical cancer screening, such as lack of health insurance and fear of cervical exams, which can be uncomfortable and anxiety-inducing. Enter University of North Carolina researchers Jennifer S. Smith and Noel T. Brewer. The duo are part of the research team behind the My Body, My Test 3 clinical trial, which explored the ...

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Latino Adults More Likely Than Others to Skip Medication Due to Cost


skip medications due to cost

Times are financially tough for many families, especially low-income Latinos. To save money, many people are cutting costs on non-essentials, like eating out, entertainment, and more. But some people are cutting costs on items that are normally considered essential, like prescription medications, according to a recent US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) report. Let’s explore what adults are most likely to skip taking medications to save money, the consequences of this behavior, and how leaders are working to reduce the cost of prescription drugs. Groups Most Affected by Drug Costs Unfortunately, groups most likely to skip medication to save money are those who are already vulnerable to health disparities, according to the CDC report. These groups ...

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Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2022 Conference Proceedings


latino family advancing the science of cancer in latinos

In the next few years, Latinos face a 142% rise in cancer rates. Latinos also experience cancer differently—from genetics to healthcare access to survivorship. That’s why Dr. Amelie Ramirez, director of Salud America! and the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio, partnered with the Mays Cancer Center to create the Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos (ASCL) biennial conference. Read the proceedings from the 2018 and 2020 ASCL Conferences. The 2022 ASCL Conference on Feb. 23-25, 2022, in San Antonio, Texas, welcomed over 250 prominent researchers, physicians, healthcare professionals, patient advocates, and students from across the globe to address cancer health disparities among Latinos. Conference sponsors included major supporters Genentech ...

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Childhood Cancer Survival Rates Lower on Texas-Mexico Border; SDoH-Focused Cancer Research Needed


childhood cancer leukemia

Cancer survival disparities are well documented in adults living along the US-Mexico border, but it is unknown whether these disparities similarly affect children with leukemia, the most common cancer in children and teens. A Baylor College of Medicine study in the journal Cancer helps bridge this knowledge gap. Let’s explore the findings of the study, what these findings mean for Latino children and families living along the Texas-Mexico border, and how to address cancer disparities in the Latino population. Study Findings on Leukemia in South Texas Baylor College of Medicine researchers examined the survival rates of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), the most common form of pediatric leukemia, in children living along the Texas-Mexico border. The study included 6,002 Texas ...

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Report: Children Worry More Than You Think


child full of worry

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, global conflicts, and an inflated economy, families have been going through a lot lately. Children are no exception. The US is facing an “urgent public health issue” among youth, and it’s not the typical stomach bug or cough usually associated with children – it’s their mental health. In honor of May being Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re highlighting the reasons elementary and middle school-age children worry, how often they worry, and their coping mechanisms, according to a recent report by Nemours KidsHealth. We’ll also touch on what parents can do to help their children through worrisome times. Why Do Children Worry? Of the 504 children between ages 9 and 13 who responded to the Nemours survey, worries centered around school ...

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