Health disparities are differences in the incidence, prevalence, and mortality of a disease and the related adverse health conditions that exist among specific population groups. These groups may be characterized by gender, age, race or ethnicity, education, income, social class, disability, geographic location, or sexual orientation.
Hispanic People have different degrees of illness or health risks than white people.
Hispanic subgroups have different degrees of health risk and more need to receive preventive screenings as recommended.
Whether Hispanic people were born in the US makes a difference.
*National Health Interview Survey data, 2009-2013 combined, for ages 18-64 years.
Chicago Tackles COVID-19 Disparities In Hard-Hit Black And Latino Neighborhoods (NPR)
Additional Reading:
Latino communities in the US devastated by Covid-19 (CNN)
Latinos hit hard by coronavirus, but Chicago suggests it’s even worse than it looks (Washington Post)
COVID-19 takes aim at Chicago's Latino community, many without health care (ABC News)
Latinos have the highest COVID-19 infection rate in Illinois. As restrictions ease, community leaders fear things will get even worse.(Chicago Tribune)
Cancer Facts & Figures for Hispanics and Latinos (For Spanish readers >> Datos y Estadísticas sobre el Cáncer entre los Hispanos/Latinos)
Cancer Facts & Figures for Hispanics/Latinos 2018-2020
Improving Hispanic/Latino Heart Health
Heart Health Education Materials for the Hispanic/Latino Population
Health disparities are one reason why HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, STDs, and TB take a greater toll in one population group over another.
In 2014, Hispanics/Latinos made up 17% of the population of the United States but accounted for 23% of estimated diagnoses of HIV infection.
A recent HIV care and treatment study published in JAMA Internal Medicine showed that Hispanic/Latinos diagnosed with HIV are less likely than whites to be linked to care, retained in care, receive antiretroviral treatment and achieve adequate viral suppression.