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SEPTEMBER 15 - OCTOBER 15,
2007
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HISPANIC/LATINO HERITAGE MONTH |
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In September 1968, Congress authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to
proclaim National Hispanic Heritage Week. The observance was
expanded in 1988 to a month long celebration (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15).
America celebrates the culture and traditions of U.S. residents who
trace their roots to Spain, Mexico and the Spanish-speaking nations
of Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Sept. 15 was
chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the
anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa
Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition,
Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and
Sept. 18, respectively.1 |
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The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) defines Hispanic or Latino
as “a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central
American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.”
In data collection and presentation, federal agencies are required
to use a minimum of two ethnicities: “Hispanic or Latino” and Not
Hispanic or Latino.” Starting with Census 2000, the OMB requires
federal agencies to use a minimum of five race categories: |
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White; |
| Black or African American; |
| American Indian or Alaska Native; |
| Asian; and |
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Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander.
2 |
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Hispanics/Latinos include any person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican,
South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin,
regardless of race. According to the 2004 U.S. Census Bureau
population estimate, there are roughly 41.3 million Hispanics living
in the United States. This group represents more than 13% of the
U.S. total population. Among Hispanic subgroups, Mexicans rank as
the largest at 66.9%. Following Mexicans are Central and South
Americans (14.3%), Puerto Ricans (8.6%), Cubans (3.7%) and the
remaining 6.5% are people of other Hispanic origins. In 2002, 34.4%
of Hispanics were under the age 18 in comparison to 22.8% of
non-Hispanic Caucasians. Among Hispanics, Mexicans have the largest
proportion of people under age 18, at 38%. States with the largest
Hispanic populations are California (11 million), Texas (6.7
million), New York (2.9 million), Florida (2.6 million), and
Illinois (1.5 million).3
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EXAMPLES OF IMPORTANT
DISPARITIES |
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In 2003, 34.7% of Hispanics/Latinos under age 65 lacked health care
coverage, compared with 11.9% of non-Hispanic whites and about 16.5%
of the total population. Among Hispanic/Latino subgroups, Mexicans
were least likely to be insured (37.8%), while Cubans were most
likely to be insured (17.7%).4
Hispanic/Latina women were 1.8 times more likely to have late or no
prenatal care (5.3%) than white women (3.0%).5
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From 1998-2002, Hispanic/Latina women had an incidence rate for
cancers of the cervix that was 1.8 times higher than that for white
women (Hispanic/Latinas: 15.8 per 100,000 women; Whites: 8.7).
During the same period of time, Hispanics/Latinas also had a
cervical cancer death rate that was 1.4 times higher than for white
women (Hispanics/Latinas: 3.5 per 100,000 deaths; Whites: 2.5).6 |
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In 2003, the HIV/AIDS death rate was 2.7 times higher for
Hispanic/Latino males (9.2 per 100,000 population) than for
non-Hispanic white males (3.4), and 4.5 times higher for
Hispanic/Latina females (2.7) than for non-Hispanic white females
(0.6).7 |
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In 1999 the death rate for HIV was 32.7 per 100,000 for Puerto Ricans
living on the mainland of the United States, higher than any other
racial or ethnic group, more than six times the national average
(5.4 per 100,000) and more than 13 times the rate for non-Hispanic
whites (2.4).8 |
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In 2002, influenza vaccination coverage among adults 65 years of age
and older was 70.2% for whites and 46.7% for Hispanics/Latinos. The
gap for pneumococcal vaccination coverage among older adults was
even wider, with 60.6% for whites and 23.8% for Hispanics/Latinos.9 |
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In 2003, the diabetes death rate for Hispanics/Latinos (35.0 per
100,000 population) was 1.6 times higher than for non-Hispanic
whites (22.1).10
Among Hispanics/Latinos, the diabetes death rate in 2000 was highest
among Puerto Ricans (172), followed by the rates for Mexican
Americans (122), and Cuban Americans (47).8 |
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In 2002, the lifetime prevalence of asthma was 2.4 times higher for
Puerto Ricans (196 per 1,000) compared to all Hispanics/Latinos (83)
and 1.8 times higher than non-Hispanic whites (111).11 |
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In men ages 20-74 years, Mexican Americans had a higher prevalence
of overweight (74.1%) and obesity (29.0%) in 1999-2002 than
non-Hispanic white men (69.5% overweight; 28.7% obese) or
non-Hispanic black men (62.0% overweight; 27.9% obese).12 |
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More than 11 million people reside along the U.S.-Mexico border.
The U.S. border region contains four of eight* of the poorest U.S.
Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA). Large population movement,
limited public health infrastructure and poor environmental
conditions contribute to increased risk for infectious diseases in
the border region.13 |
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In 2000, the rate of tuberculosis (TB) was 1.7 times higher along the
U.S. side of the border (10.0 per 100,000) than in the entire U.S.
(6.0).14 |
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In 2000, the rate of Hepatitis A was 2.2 times higher along the U.S.
side of the border (11.0 per 100,000) than in the entire U.S. (4.9).14 |
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In 2000, the rate of Hepatitis B was 2.2 times higher along the U.S.
side of the border (6.3 per 100,000) than in the entire U.S. (2.9).14 |
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FOR MORE INFORMATION |
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) |
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Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) |
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Health Disparities Experienced by Hispanics-United States |
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National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) |
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Health of Hispanic/Latino Population |
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National Center for HIV/AIDS,
Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP) |
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HIV/AIDS among Hispanics |
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Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities (OMHD) |
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Hispanic or Latino Populations
(en Español) |
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Hispanic Health Program Fact Sheets (en
Español) |
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Hispanic/Latino News |
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Página
Principal de la OMH |
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Populations Definitions (en
Español) |
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Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) |
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National Women’s Health Information Center (NWHIS) |
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Health Problems in Hispanic American / Latina Women |
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Office of Minority Health (OMH) |
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Hispanic/Latino Profile |
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National Latino AIDS Awareness Day: October 15 |
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Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) |
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HIV/AIDS Bureau |
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Hispanics and HIV/AIDS |
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National Library of Medicine (NLM) |
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Medline Plus |
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Hispanic-American Health |
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United States-Mexico Border Health Commission |
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Health Border 2010: An Agenda for Improving Health on the United
States-Mexico Border |
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SOURCES |
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1. |
U.S. Census Bureau, Facts for Features: Hispanic
Heritage Month, Sept 15-Oct 15, 2006 |
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2. |
U.S. Census Bureau, Overview of Race and Hispanic
Origin, 2000 |
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3. |
Department of Health and Human Services, Office of
Minority Health, Hispanic/Latino Profile |
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4. |
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Health United States,
2005, table 134 |
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5. |
CDC, NCHS, Health United States, 2005, table 7 |
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6. |
National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer
Institute (NCI), Cancer Health Disparities: Fact Sheet, 2005 |
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7. |
CDC, NCHS, Health United States, 2005, table 42 |
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8. |
CDC, Office of Communication (OC), Fact Sheet:
Hispanic Health Disparities |
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9. |
CDC, OC, Racial/Ethnic Health Disparities, 2004 |
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10. |
CDC, NCHS, Health United States, 2005, table 29 |
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11. |
CDC, NCHS, Asthma Prevalence, Health Care Use and
Mortality, 2002 |
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12. |
CDC, NCHS, Health United States, 2005, table 73 |
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13. |
CDC, Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities
(OMHD), Hispanic Health program: Border Infectious Disease
Surveillance (BIDS) |
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14. |
Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities
(OMHD), Grantees Meeting, 2006 |
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* |
The eight poorest counties are (in
order from poorest to least poor):
1. Loup county, NE
2. Arthur county, NE
3. Mercer county, MO
4.
Edwards county, TX
5. Starr county, TX
6.
Blaine county, NE
7. Zavala county, TX
8. Maverick county, TX
Bold indicates Mexico border
region.
Source:
U.S. Census Bureau,
County and City Data Book: 2000.
Table B-8 |
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