Archived
June, 2007 |
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Hispanic Health Program
ASSESSING HISPANIC HEALTH:
DATA ACTIVITIES
WHAT IS THE PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM?
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The U.S. Hispanic/Latino
population is at higher risk than some other population groups for
health problems such as diabetes, lack of health insurance, and lack
of early prenatal care. |
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To make informed
assessments of the extent of health problems facing the Hispanic/Latino
population, it is important to have comprehensive data, including
data on these subgroups. |
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Obtaining data for
Hispanics/Latinos and
these subgroups is a challenge for data collection
because of their relatively small numbers in the population and
geographic dispersion. Culturally and linguistically appropriate
data collection materials and bilingual interviewers are also
necessary. |
WHAT HAS CDC
ACCOMPLISHED?
National Center for
Health Statistics’(NCHS) surveys and data systems provide fundamental
public health and health policy statistics that meet the needs of a wide
range of users. These data are used by policymakers in Congress and the
Administration, by medical researchers, and by others in the health
community to track changes in health and health care.
Example of
program in action: |
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NCHS has improved its basic
data collection for Hispanics/Latinos. The major NCHS population-based health
surveys, the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), the National Health
and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), and the National Survey of
Family Growth (NSFG), over-sample for Hispanics/Latinos, which helps produce more
accurate estimates. These surveys have been translated into Spanish and
provide bilingual interviewers. Ethnicity detail shown in major NCHS
publications has increased. NCHS supports ongoing research into improving
methods for assessing the health of racial and ethnic populations,
including ways to improve the designs of ongoing national studies. |
WHAT ARE THE NEXT
STEPS?
Possible future
enhancements include: 1.) The use of a modified NHANES, the "Community
HANES," to obtain objective health measures for sub-national populations.
With appropriate funding, this tool could be used in areas with
concentrated Hispanic/Latino populations, such as South Florida, the New York
City area, and the U.S./Mexico border region; and 2.) Increased
methodological research on issues that affect Hispanic/Latino populations, such
as the bias in death rates resulting from the misreporting of Hispanic
ethnicity on death certificates.
For more information contact
the National Center for Health Statistics; 6525 Belcrest Road, Hyattsville, MD 20782:
(301)458-4636:
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/. |
Back to the Hispanic/Latino Populations Page
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