LCH prioritizes timely, relevant, community-informed research responsive to current and emerging issues impacting the health and well-being of urban and rural Latino communities across generations. LCH publishes a variety of publications including Policy Briefs, digital recordings of our Symposiums, and manuscripts. We also support research through our Small Grants Program. Below is a list of our digital and print publications.
Release Date: August 04, 2025
This research article reports on a cross-sectional survey of Latino patients at two Federally Qualified Health Centers in Washington State to assess the prevalence and impact of Long COVID. Among 1,500 respondents with confirmed COVID-19 infections, 43% reported symptoms lasting at least three months, meeting the WHO criteria for Long COVID. Higher rates were observed among women, middle-aged adults, and those with lower socioeconomic status. It is particularly alarming that some of the highest rates of Long COVID were detected among middle-aged women, as women in this age demographic play a critical role in the well-being of families and communities. The study calls for improved diagnosis, treatment access, and support systems for affected individuals.
Citation: Rachid Zaim S, Castillo JD, Cabrera A, Sankary K, Ramirez G, Li XJ, Morales LS. Long COVID among Latino Patients of Two Federally Qualified Health Centers in Washington State. J Gen Intern Med. 2025 Aug 4. doi: 10.1007/s11606-025-09732-y. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40758213
Release Date: August 11, 2025
We conducted a cross-cultural adaptation of the HLSI-SF for Hispanic and Latino/a/e communities in the U.S. Our rigorous mixed-method process confirmed the measure’s overall content and linguistic validity and identified challenges in adapting items assessing health-related quantitative literacy, numeracy skills, and medical terminology proficiency. After addressing challenges with two items and further validation, the HLSI-SF will become a valid health literacy measure for the target population.
Keywords: Health literacy research and practice
Release Date: September 01, 2024
Authors: Contreras, J., Wang, C., Castillo, W. C., Caicedo, J., Guerrero Vázquez, M., Robalino, T., Hidalgo-Arroyo, A., & Villalonga-Olives, E.
The purpose of this study is to culturally adapt the Awareness and Beliefs about Cancer (ABC) measure for use in the Hispanic/Latino population living in the United States (US).
Keywords: Frontiers in Public Health
January 17, 2024
The Latino Center for Health, an interdisciplinary research center at the University of Washington, conducted and completed a qualitative study of 25 telephone interviews with Latinx individuals across Washington state to ascertain their perceptions and attitudes regarding COVID-19 vaccines.
February 20, 2024
The Latino Center for Health, an interdisciplinary research center at the University of Washington, conducted and completed a qualitative study of 8 telephone interviews with Latinx promotoras across Washington state as a follow-up to its January 17, 2024, report to the Department of Health which examined the perceptions and attitudes of Latinx individuals regarding COVID-19 vaccines.
Release Date: December 13 2023
Transcript of the Beyond the Manuscript podcast, where Linda Sprague Martinez interviews four of the eight authors of the editorial, “Critical reflections on this historical moment for community-engaged and participatory research.”
Keywords: Community Research | Participatory Research
Release Date: December 13 2023
Authors: Milton “Mickey” Eder, Ysabel Duron, Lori Carter-Edwards, Ella Greene-Moton, Meredith Minkler, Leo S. Morales, Keith Norris, Nina Wallerstein
Without openness, involvement, and transparency, and despite efforts to address the often deep and understandable fear of systemic biases, many minoritized communities will likely remain distant from medical care, research, and the public health workforce…We must create authentic opportunities for both dialogue and action with communities about a broad range of topics that enable improved public understanding and authentic participation in decision-making.
Keywords: Community Research | Participatory Research
Release Date: October 2023
The purpose of this study is to examine patterns in adolescent and young adult tobacco use, comparing Latinx foreign-born children and children of foreign-born parents (i.e., children of immigrants (COI)) to Latinx US-born children of US-born parents (i.e., children of nonimmigrants, (CONI)) and to CONI White youth who grew up in small and rural towns.
Keywords: Rural | Tobacco
Release Date: November 2021
This research project was funded by LCH as part of the Small Grants Program: Migrant and seasonal agricultural workers including indigenous women who are not of Hispanic descent face many barriers to access prenatal care. We conducted a survey in Spanish and three indigenous languages—Mixteco, Triqui, and Awakateko—to explore knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding prenatal care among 82 female agricultural workers residing in the state of Washington. Our findings highlight the importance of collecting disaggregated data from different indigenous communities and of providing indigenous language support. Our study provides new information for developing messages to promote prenatal care that take into account the knowledge and beliefs that are prevalent in these communities.
Keywords: Videos | Women
Release Date: September, 2019
The University of Washington Latino Center for Health, in collaboration with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, aims to identify and describe strengths and barriers to accessing workers’ compensation benefits experienced by Latino workers in Central Washington through summarized findings from key informant interviews.
Keywords: Economic Impact | Population
Release Date: November 17, 2020
WAISN was created in November 2016 in response to the presidential election and is now made up of over 100 organizations with backgrounds and specialties in law, education, policy, and direct services. It has become a powerful, volunteer-driven network of immigrants and refugee-rights organizations, working alongside community members across the state to address systemic inequities and provide information and resources to alleviate the impact of threats and anti-immigrant actions. One such resource is WAISN’s hotline, which serves to connect community members with trusted information and resources. Since its inception, the WAISN hotline primarily served to respond to Immigration Custom Enforcement (ICE)/Custom Border Patrol (CBP) activity, report the detention of a group or individuals, referral assistance for friends and family that are detained, access to know-your-rights information and Fair Fight Bond and Accompaniment. In March 2020, as COVID-19 began to spread in Washington State, not only did WAISN start receiving an influx of calls, but the nature of the calls shifted in response to social, economic, and healthcare challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Being a trusted source of information, community members reached out to WAISN for support regarding information and questions about COVID-19, resources about rental assistance, food, utilities, workplace safety, and unemployment, primarily.
Keywords: Childcare | COVID-19 | Immigrant Communities
Release Date: October 30, 2020
Today’s Changes for Serving Tomorrow’s Diverse Communities: Increasing the Latinx Physician Workforce NOW
This Washington State Latino Physician Workforce study was supported and funded by the state legislature. The overall goals of this report are to describe the current Latino physician workforce in WA and to develop policy recommendations to meet the State’s growing need for Latino physicians.
Keywords: Physician Workforce
Release Date: October 2020
Los Cambios de Hoy Para Servir a las Comunidades Diversas de Mañana:
Aumentar la Fuerza de Trabajo de los Médicos Latinos Ahora
Este estudio de La Fuerza Médica Latina del Estado de Washington fue apoyado y financiado por la legislatura estatal y surgió del deseo expresado de una organización local de atención médica latina que quería saber el estatus de la fuerza laboral médica latina en WA. Los objetivos generales de este informe son describir la fuerza laboral actual de los médicos latinos en WA y desarrollar recomendaciones de políticas para satisfacer la creciente necesidad del estado de médicos latinos.
Keywords: Physician Workforce
Release Date: March 10, 2022
New childcare, teaching responsibilities during COVID-19 pandemic widening educational gaps for Latino families: This brief from LCH researchers highlights disparities accentuated during the pandemic, including access to digital resources, as families experienced income reduction and transitioned to digital online homeschooling.
Keywords: Childcare | COVID-19 | Policy Briefs
Release Date: December 9, 2021
COVID-19 Pandemic Intensifies Economic Disparities Among Latinos, Latinas in Washington State: This brief from LCH researchers shows that Latino men and women are experiencing disproportionate economic hardships, with Latina women facing higher unemployment rates and caretaking responsibilities.
Keywords: COVID-19 | Economic Impact | Women
Release Date: October 2020
Today’s Changes for Serving Tomorrow’s Diverse Communities: Increasing the Latinx Physician Workforce NOW
This Washington State Latino Physician Workforce study was supported and funded by the state legislature. The overall goals of this report are to describe the current Latino physician workforce in WA and to develop policy recommendations to meet the State’s growing need for Latino physicians.
Keywords: Physician Workforce
Release Date: October 6, 2021
This brief from LCH researchers reports that state and county support for community-based organizations is vital to help vulnerable Latino communities who are being left behind in vaccination efforts.
Keywords: COVID-19 | Policy Briefs | Vaccination
Release Date: October 6, 2021
Survey finds Latinos trust TV, social media, & CBOs for COVID-19 information: This brief from LCH researchers found that television, social media, and community-based organizations are important sources that Latinos in Washington use and trust for getting their COVID-19-related information.
Keywords: COVID-19
Release Date: October 27, 2021
This brief from LCH researchers reports that although Washington State has made significant progress, some urban and rural Latinx communities are lagging behind and remain at significant risk of COVID-19 infections.
Keywords: COVID-19 | Policy Briefs | Vaccination
Release Date: April 27, 2021
Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among WA State Latinos Appears to be Low, Accessibility Remains Concern: This brief from LCH researchers finds 62 percent of Latinos/Hispanics in Washington state are willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine yet remain under-vaccinated. LCH calls for policymakers and public health officials to target communications and accessibility barriers.
Keywords: COVID-19 | Vaccination
Release Date: June 16, 2021
This brief from LCH researchers finds increased prevalence in depression and anxiety among Latinos in Washington State. LCH calls for policymakers to recognize this issue as critical and make short- and long-term changes to improve access to mental healthcare.
Keywords: Mental Health | Policy Briefs