HEALTH CARE PRIORITIES AND RESEARCH AGENDA SUGGESTED FOR LATINO CHILDREN

[Guest guest]

> FYI:

>

> HEALTH CARE PRIORITIES AND RESEARCH AGENDA SUGGESTED FOR LATINO CHILDREN

>

> CHICAGO -- Although they are the largest racial/ethnic minority group of

> children in the United States, Latino children face many obstacles to health

> care, according to an article in the July 3 issue of The Journal of the

> American Medical Association (JAMA).

>

> Glenn , M.D., of the Boston Medical Center, Boston, and colleagues

> from The Latino Consortium of the American Academy of Pediatrics Center for

> Child Health Research (CCHR), a group consisting of 13 expert panelists,

> identified priority areas and critical research and policy issues in Latino

> children's health.

>

> " Latino children are a model population for evaluating effective approaches

> to improving the health of underserved and high-risk populations because

> they experience a disproportionate burden of health risk factors, morbidity,

> suboptimal health status, underuse of health services, impaired access to

> care, and health disparities, " the authors report. Latinos are the

> largest minority group of children (11.6 million) in the U.S., comprising 16

> percent of the population younger than 18 years, according to background

> information in the article. The Consortium defines Latino as all U.S.

> persons whose origins can be traced to the Spanish-speaking regions of Latin

> America, including the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and South

> America.

>

> The CCHR article notes that:

>

> * Latinos are rarely included in child health research. Future studies

> should examine racial and ethnic differences in health and identify

> underlying causes.

>

> * Latino children are at high risk for behavioral and developmental

> disorders. Puerto Rican children have among the highest national

> prevalence of developmental disorders and functional limitations. Studies

> are needed to find out why.

>

> * There are many unanswered questions about the mental health needs and use

> of services for Latino children.

>

> * The prevalence of dental caries (tooth decay) is disproportionately higher

> for Latino children, but the reasons why are not clear and should be

> studied.

>

> * Latino boys are the most overweight and Latina girls are the second most

> overweight racial/ethnic groups of U.S. children. The authors note that more

> research is needed to find out why Latino children have such high risks of

> obesity and diabetes and what preventive interventions are most effective.

>

> * Puerto Rican children have the highest prevalence of active asthma (11

> percent) of any U.S. ethnic/racial group of children, exceeding the

> prevalence for blacks (6 percent) and whites (3 percent). Overall, a half

> million Latino children have asthma; two-thirds of them are Puerto Rican.

>

> * The health of children of migrant Latino farm workers is particularly at

> risk because of their migratory status. Of the more than 1 million children

> who travel with their parents annually in pursuit of farm labor, 94 percent

> are Latino. These children receive inadequate preventive care, experience

> high rates of infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, parasites, and

> sexually transmitted diseases; have inadequate preparation for school entry

> and low rates of school completion.

>

> * Latinos are more likely to be uninsured (27 percent) than any other ethnic

> group of U.S. children.

>

> * Several studies document that Latino children frequently receive lower

> quality of health care.

>

> * Latino youth have the highest school dropout rate in the nation, 29

> percent compared with 13 percent for blacks and 7 percent for whites.

>

> * Culture and language issues can profoundly affect Latino children's health

> and quality of care.

>

> * Latinos are underrepresented at every level of the health care

> professions. Although 16 percent of children younger than 18 years are

> Latino, only 3 percent of medical school faculty, 5 percent of

> pediatricians, 2.8 percent of dentists and 2 percent of nurses are Latino.

>

> The CCHR concludes by stating, " It is time for our health policies,

> services, and research to address this dramatic demographic change... " The

> consortium states that these changes will be accomplished through greater

> inclusion of Latino children in medical research, analysis of study data by

> pertinent Latino subgroups, enhancing early education opportunities for

> Latino children, training health care professionals more extensively in

> cultural competency, increasing the number of Latinos in health care

> professions, and eliminating the disparities in access to care, mental

> health, immunization coverage, oral health, quality of care and

> environmental health.

> (JAMA. 2002; 288:82-90. Available post-embargo at JAMA.com)

>

> Editor's Note: Dr. is supported by an Independent Scientist Award

> from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and Minority Medical

> Faculty Development and General Physician Faculty Scholars Awards from The

> Wood Foundation.

>

> ###

>

> For More Information: Contact JAMA/Archives Media Relations Department at

> 312/464-JAMA (5262).

>

> Amy K. Liebman

> 504 Poplar Hill Avenue

> Salisbury, MD 21801

> 410.860.9850

>

> W. s, M.S.

> Rural Youth Safety Specialist

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site of the Children's Safety Network)

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