Unequal Access, Unequal Outcomes: The Health Status of Georgia’s Latinos

1. Unequal Access, Unequal Outcomes: The Health Status of Georgia’s Latinos Georgia Latino/Hispanic Health Agenda and Leadership Project Natalie D. Hernandez, M.P.H. Project Coordinator National Council of La Raza Atlanta Health Program Office

2. Presentation Objectives • Provide an overview of Georgia Hispanic/Latino Health Agenda and Leadership Project • Provide a snapshot of Georgia’s Latino Community • Identify Barriers facing Hispanics when Accessing Care and Providers when Providing Care • Recommendations

3. Georgia Hispanic/Latino Health Agenda and Leadership Project • Two Goals • Document the health-related needs of the Hispanic community and identify methods to address those needs. Do this by – • Collecting Georgia-specific health data from state and national databases. • Conducting focus groups throughout the state with community members. • Conducting interviews with Georgia’s health leaders. • i.e. community health leaders, health care providers, etc. *The terms “Latino” and “Hispanic” are used interchangeably by the U.S. Census Bureau and throughout this slideshow to identify persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central and South American, Dominican, and Spanish Descent; they may be of any race.

4. Georgia Hispanic/Latino Health Agenda and Leadership Project • Work with established organizations to increase their capacity to advocate for changes to healthcare policy and programs at all levels. Do this by – • Providing capacity-building assistance to healthcare organizations. • Organizations will receive technical assistance from NCLR or its partners to increase their effectiveness in continuing to highlight the needs of the Latino community.

5. Georgia Hispanic/Latino Health Agenda and Leadership Project Project will create two products: • Statistical Brief – Latinos in Georgia: A Closer Look (released October 2005) • Health Agenda (release date to be determined

6. Latino Health Status in Georgia • Population Highlights • 576,113 • 3rd fastest-growing Latino population of any state. • ½ of Hispanics in Georgia are U.S. Citizens, either by birth or naturalization. • Median age~25.6 • 52.9% characterize themselves as not speaking English very well or at all.

7. Latino Health Status in Georgia • Leading Causes of Death for the Georgia Latino Population, All Age Groups, in 2002 Type 1. Unintentional Injury 2. Malignant Neoplasms 3. Heart Disease 4. Homicide 5. Perinatal Period 6. Congenital Anomalies 7. Cerebrovascular Disease 8. Diabetes Mellitus 9. Suicide 10. HIV Source: National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) 2002, National Vital Statistics System.

8. Latino Health Status in Georgia • Risk Factors • Latinos in Georgia are at increased risk for chronic diseases. • 69% Latinos reported they were at risk for health problems due to being overweight. • 61% Latina girls ages 15-19 become pregnant at least once before 20th birthday. Sources: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BFRSS) 2004; Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BFRSS) 2003; Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BFRSS) 2002; Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation: Georgia: Health Status; Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) 2002.

9. Table 8: Risk Factors that Contribute to Chronic Diseases Risk Factors that Contribute to Chronic Diseases Sources:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BFRSS) 2004; Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BFRSS) 2003; Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BFRSS) 2002; Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation: Georgia: Health Status; Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) 2002.

10. Latino Health Status in Georgia • Access to Care • In 2002-2003, 43% of non-elderly Latinos did not have health insurance. • Preventive Care • Underutilization of preventive services, including cancer screening. • Infants and Children • 65% of Latinas sought early and adequate prenatal care. • Mental Health • Latinos more likely to report poor mental health (44%) compared to whites (32%) and Blacks (36%).

11. Barriers • Access • Language • Lack of insurance • Literacy levels • Cultural Factors • Lack of knowledge about U.S. health care system • Fear of deportation or jeopardizing future legal status • Familial orientation

12. Barriers • Structural Factors • Long waits • Inconvenient hours • Lack of transportation • High cost of services • Lack of Spanish-speaking providers • Legal permanent resident who enter after 8/96 barred from accessing Medicaid

13. Recommendations • Hire and train bilingual and bicultural personnel • Create outreach programs that utilize Hispanic health educators or Community lay workers • Develop culturally, linguistically and literacy appropriate materials. Do not simply translate available materials.

14. Recommendations • Integrate family and social supports into health education and disease prevention activities. • Pay attention to the high value Latinos place on interpersonal relationships

15. Contact Information Natalie D. Hernandez National Council of La Raza Project Coordinator 235 Peachtree Street, NE Suite 2000 Atlanta, GA 30303 NHernandez@NCLR.Org