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Health Disparities Forum Seeks Solutions

March 24, 2008
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According to the Center for Disease Control, a Latina's chance of getting cervical cancer is more than 160 percent higher than a Caucasian woman. The morbidity rate of African-American babies is almost twice that of the national average. These are just a few of the health disparities that were discussed earlier this month in Manhattan Beach at a forum to raise awareness about health concerns faced by ethnic minorities, and to seek potential solutions.

The U. S. Health Disparities Forum was convened by MAYA Advertising and Communications, a firm focused on health-related social marketing to ethnically diverse communities. MAYA, in partnership with the Latino Issues Forum (LIF), recently surveyed more than a hundred Hispanic leaders across California, asking them to share their opinions about health care policy priorities in the Latino Community.

Sara Mercer, senior program manager for health with LIF presented the survey's key findings, which included feedback on health care priorities in the Latino community, policy priorities that impact Latinos and alternative sources of care.

The survey results include suggestions from the leaders for solutions to what they consider to be the most pressing problems in their community. Following are the policy recommendations that came from the survey:

  • Require all health care plans to cover preventive screenings, disease management and health assistance programs such as smoking cessation, and nutrition counseling.
  • Develop a bilingual media campaign about prevalent illnesses among Latinos and prevention strategies.
  • Collect demographic data to ensure health plans deliver quality and equitable health care.
  • Invest in local communities to provide active living environments.
  • Develop clear guidelines for the public to measure the quality of care they receive.

The forum ended with a late morning panel discussion on health disparities as a social justice issue that was facilitated by KTLA news reporter Elizabeth Espinosa. Panelists representing the Asian-Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California, Garcia Research and the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund were asked if health disparities amount to a civil rights issue. The consensus was yes, although each panelist had a different perspective on potential solutions. Panelists echoed the survey findings and emphasized the importance of policy change and public education.

Click here to learn more about the Health Disparities Forum, and the MAYA survey findings.

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