Hispanic health in the United States

Article Abstract:

The January 9, 1991 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association is devoted to the health of, and health care for, Hispanics in the US. A report concerning this subject is presented by the Council on Scientific Affairs of the American Medical Association, followed by suggestions of ways physicians can promote the involvement of Hispanics in their own health care. The US Hispanic population is the country's fastest-growing minority group, and its families are more than two times as likely as non-Hispanic families to live in poverty. Five subgroups are recognized: Mexican Americans (62.3 percent), Puerto Ricans (12.7 percent), Cuban Americans (5.3 percent), Central or South Americans (11.5 percent), and ''other'' Hispanics (8.1 percent). Hispanics have a higher fertility rate, lower educational achievement, and a higher unemployment rate, than the non-Hispanic population. Although they spend a higher proportion of their disposable income on health care, they are more likely to be uninsured. Puerto Ricans are most likely to have Medicaid, while Cuban Americans are most likely to have private insurance. Hispanics are considerably less likely than whites to have a regular source of health care, and more likely to use emergency rooms for primary care. Additional information concerning Hispanics' use of insurance and access to care is presented. This group has high mortality due to cancer (especially of the stomach, esophagus, pancreas, and cervix), alcoholism and cirrhosis (severe liver disease), drug addiction, and violent death (for Puerto Rican males, these death rates are higher than those for blacks). Puerto Ricans have the poorest health status of the three major Hispanic subgroups. Hispanics are at elevated risk (compared with whites) for diabetes, high blood pressure, lung cancer, tuberculosis, AIDS, and other conditions. The greatest barriers to improving Hispanic health care are the group's poverty and lack of health insurance. Acculturation in the US brings poorer, not better, health. Physicians can promote better health among Hispanics by working with Hispanic health organizations and by encouraging the recruitment of Hispanic medical students. Spanish-language health information can help, and research that focuses on diseases with high prevalence in this population is also indicated. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Reports, American Medical Association, Health surveys

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Health status among Hispanics: major themes and new priorities

Article Abstract:

Much of the current research concerning Hispanic health care in the US owes its beginnings to a national meeting in 1989 that focused on this topic. The forum involved 100 researchers and administrators, and aimed at formulating a research agenda. The pace of research efforts will undoubtedly accelerate as the full magnitude of the effect exerted by a group that will become the country's largest minority group by the year 2000 is felt. The entire January 9, 1991 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association is devoted to Hispanic health concerns. This is a population composed of people who trace their lineages to Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Central or South America, or other Spanish-speaking regions. The articles in the Journal issue concern Hispanics' health status, access to care, and health insurance; one report details conditions in US-Mexican border communities. The findings are briefly summarized. Efforts to improve Hispanic health must consider the heterogeneity of the population; for instance, Mexican Americans have a particularly high prevalence of noninsulin-dependent diabetes, while Puerto Rican women have a very high risk of breast and cervical cancer. Since many Hispanics work at low-income jobs, they cannot quality for Medicaid, yet they do not have health insurance. Beyond this, a barrier to utilizing health care may lie elsewhere, as well, since Hispanic military veterans often underutilize Veterans' Administration services. Border life is characterized by health problems, but infant mortality is low, as is the proportion of low-birthweight babies. Newer immigrants to the North appear healthier and more productive than they are commonly thought to be. The improvement of health among Hispanics requires an investment in rigorous research concerning the most relevant health concerns; a commitment by physicians to recruiting Hispanic medical students and to reaching Hispanic communities; and translation of health care problems into realistic policy proposals. The private sector will work to improve health care options if it sees a potential employment benefit. It now appears that the medical profession, as well as academicians, legislators, and business community members are interested in improving health care for this large and growing segment of the US population. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

editorial

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Prevalence of overweight for Hispanics - United States, 1982 -1984

Article Abstract:

Health and nutrition surveys have been conducted since 1960 for various populations within the United States. The Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of 1982 to 1984 evaluated the three largest groups of Hispanics in the country: Mexican Americans living in the southwestern United States; Cuban Americans in Miami, Florida; and Puerto Ricans in the greater New York City area. The prevalence of overweight was assessed using a measure based on weight divided by height. Overweight was found to vary by national origin for both sexes, but in summary the incidence of overweight ranged from 25 to 30 percent for Hispanic men and 34 to 39 percent for Hispanic women. The number of severely overweight individuals represented eight to 11 percent of Hispanic men and eight to 16 percent of Hispanic women. The prevalence of overweight also varied by age. As compared with other ethnic groups in the United States, significantly more Hispanics were overweight and severely overweight, with one exception; black women had a higher incidence of severe overweight than Hispanic women. The tendency towards obesity is of particular concern because it is a risk factor for non-insulin-dependent diabetes. This form of diabetes is especially prevalent among Mexican Americans because so many are overweight. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Food and nutrition, Obesity, Body weight

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