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PRESS CONTACT: |
No summary available.
Hispanics are less likely to seek and receive health-care services, which may contribute to their poorer health status and higher rates of morbidity and mortality. Strategies to reduce barriers to health-care and preventive services must be implemented among Hispanics.
PRESS CONTACT: |
Hispanic adults are less likely to seek and receive health-care services, which may contribute to their poorer health status and higher rates of morbidity and mortality, when compared to non-Hispanics. Hispanic respondents to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) were less likely to have health care coverage (76.2% vs. 90.6%) and more likely to have needed medical care and not been able to obtain it (6.5% vs. 5 %). Hispanics also were less likely to have received cancer screenings, blood cholesterol screening, or recommended immunizations. The lower prevalence of health-care access among Hispanics can be explained, in part, by the obstacles that they face such as cultural differences between them and their health-care provider, language barriers, and the administrative complexity of health plans.
An estimated total of 41 million persons in the United States are at high risk for diabetes. However, an individual can prevent or delay his or her risk of developing diabetes through lifestyle habits such as healthy eating, modest weight loss and moderate-intensity physical activity (e.g., walking for 30 minutes, 5 days a week).
PRESS CONTACT: |
Diabetes disproportionately affects Hispanics in the US and Puerto Rico. Hispanics were twice as likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic whites of similar age (9.8% vs. 5.0%). This disparity, however, varied by geographic location—it was lowest in Florida and higher in California, Texas, and Puerto Rico. Among Hispanic adults in California, Florida, Illinois, New York/New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and Texas, the overall prevalence of diabetes was 7.4%; it ranged from 6.2% in Illinois and New York/New Jersey to 9.3% in Puerto Rico. After accounting for the different age distributions of the Hispanic and non-Hispanic white populations, diabetes prevalence among Hispanics was almost twice that among non-Hispanic whites (9.8% vs. 5.0%). This disparity, however, varied by geographic location—it was lowest in Florida and higher in California, Texas, and Puerto Rico.
Data released today by the CDC suggests that some Hispanic infants are at significantly higher risk of perinatal HIV exposure than infants of other races/ethnicities.
PRESS CONTACT: |
In the greater Atlanta area between 1994 and 2002, there was a nine-fold increase in the number of perinatally HIV-exposed Hispanic babies. While the numbers remain small, Hispanic babies represented 1 of 96 perinatally exposed infants in 1994 and increased to 10 of 95 in 2002. Similar increases were not seen among infants of other races. In this study, actual perinatal HIV infections did not increase, mirroring the downward national trend in that occurred during this time period. The increase in HIV-exposure among Hispanic babies is likely due to several factors, including an increased fertility rate among Hispanic women. When compared to other racial/ethnic groups, Hispanics are also more likely to be diagnosed late in the course of infection and less likely to have health insurance. Authors note that increased access to HIV testing both before conception and during pregnancy could help further drive down perinatal HIV infection rates.
Although Hispanic teen birth rates for the United States and in most counties were adjusted downward as a result of the revised populations based on the 2000 census, rates did not change the same for all counties. However, whatever the change, the adjusted overall Hispanic teen birth rate is still higher than for all other racial and ethnic populations.
PRESS CONTACT: |
Hispanic teen birth rates remain the highest of any racial or ethnic group in the United States. Although Hispanic teen birth rates for the United States and in most counties in 1990, for example, were adjusted downward as a result of the revised populations based on the 2000 census, rates did not change the same for all counties. To better understand the current pattern and trends in Hispanic births, it is important to utilize the latest population estimates. However, users of birth rates and other population-based data need to understand the reasons for, and assess the potential effects of, revised population estimates.
| PRESS CONTACT: Division of Media Relations CDC, Office of Communications (404) 639-3286 |
No summary available.
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Contact Us This page last reviewed October 14, 2004 Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention |
