Cancer deaths in the United States have dropped 20% from 1980 to 2014! This is great news, but there are still several “hot spots” where cancer deaths persist despite efforts being made nationally, according to a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study examined 20 million cancer deaths by county location over 24 years. Liver cancer increased by almost 88% nationwide over that span, and clustered along Texas' border with Mexico in largely Latino populations, according to a news report on the research by CNN. Lung cancer deaths “bunched” across the states of Kentucky and Florida, and breast cancer deaths clustered along the Mississippi River and Southern belt. "At the county level, you see huge disparities," Ali Mokdad, the lead author ...
Few groups have benefited more from the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) than Latinos. Since the law went into effect, over 910,000 Latino adults – between the ages of 19 and 26 – who would have previously been without coverage were now eligible to remain on their parents’ plans. Over 4.2 million gained health insurance in that time as well, lowering the rate of Latino uninsured by 7.7%. With the deadline for the latest phase of Open Enrollment coming to a close on January 31, 2017, many are still without coverage. This is partly due to the fact that many do not know what is covered through plans available in the Health Care Marketplace. What Marketplace Plans Cover All plans that are available through the Marketplace cover the same set of “essential health ...
More Latinos get their news via smartphones, but the number of Hispanic newspaper journalists has dropped by half since 2005. That's why Arizona State University has created a digital platform where students get real-world experience reporting critical health, education, economic, and other news in Spanish for local Latinos. The platform is called Cronkite Noticias/Mixed Voces. It is led by ASU's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and funded by Raza Development Fund, which fosters economic growth and opportunities for Latino families across the country, ASU Now reports. The platform is guided by bilingual multimedia journalist Valeria Fernández who works "with a team of six bilingual Cronkite students to produce a variety of in-depth, Spanish-language ...
Health inequities in the United States are a rampant problem, especially for minorities such as Latinos. The U.S. has higher rates of infant mortality and shorter life expectancies than other wealthy nations. There are deep racial, ethnic, and socio-economic disparities that persist at the county and state levels throughout the country that impact millions of low-income and minority families. A new report looks to have gotten to the “root causes” of these inequities. According to research from the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, factors ranging from poverty to inadequate housing to “structural racism,” and discrimination all contribute to the health inequities that burden many citizens with poor overall health and well-being. “When our ...
Certain foods can lessen your risk for cancer, research shows. Yadira Montoya takes food to another level by sharing healthy cultural favorites and using her “molcajete” to spark important conversations. Her commitment to help improving the health profile of her community and her bicultural background has positioned her to take on several roles in health education, outreach and research in health literacy and nutritional interventions. As the coordinator of community engagement at the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, she works on initiatives to boost access to Alzheimer’s education, family support services, and research opportunities among older Latino adults, particularly individuals and families with limited English proficiency. To expand her training and prepare for ...
Three years ago, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) went into effect. Since that time, the uninsured rate in the United States has been significantly reduced to historic lows. From 2013-2016, the rate of uninsured Americans overall has been virtually cut in half and people in all demographics and regions of the country have seen significant gains. Latinos, in particular, have greatly benefited from the new insurance laws. An issue brief released by Enroll America has shown how much Latinos – and all Americans – have benefited from the ACA. According to the brief, uninsured rates in all 50 states and the District of Columbia have declined since 2013; about 90% of all counties in the U.S. saw their rate drop by a 25% or more. In order to reduce health disparities, it is critical to ...
Everyone knows that drinking water is a healthy habit, but how much and often and what are some of the benefits? For young athletes drinking water is much healthier than Gatorade or other sports drinks that are often high in added sugars. In fact, a 24-ounce Gatorade contains 34 grams of sugar and also contains large amounts of sodium as well. The Healthy Kids Hub has provided easy to use infographics that portray all the benefits of drinking water for athletes young or old, showing the benefits of water, like that it's free and doctors recommend it in their resource "5 Ways Water Wins", offered both in English and in Spanish. Another great resource offered in English and Spanish is the "Healthy Fuel for Healthy Athletes", which encourages young athletes to consume fruits and ...
In the past 15 years, Latino students have made strides in closing the achievement gap between them and their white peers. However, Latino English language learners (ELL) are falling further behind in mathematics and reading achievement. The gaps are also shown to be persistent between higher- and lower-income students. According to a new report from the Economic Policy Institute, minority children – especially Latinos – are more likely to be poor and more likely to live in low-income, racially segregated neighborhoods compared to white students. The schools were also found to contain “concentrations of low-income, nonwhite students.” In order to reduce health disparities, it is critical to address inequities in programs, practices, and policies. Join our site, connect ...
Editor’s Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2016 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply now. Pride for Puerto Rico runs deep in Marisabel Roman Afanador’s blood, from the traditional Bomba traditional musical style to the rich cultural heritage. Still, the country historical has struggled with health issues and domestic violence. That’s why Afanador, a San Juan native who learned from her grandmother’s resilience in the face of domestic violence, is dedicated to make a difference in the lives and health of women—specifically las mujeres de la isla (women of the island). Afanador works as a licensed social worker and is passionate for public health promotion and education because of all the possibilities it provides. She wants ...
