Tag: latino health

COVID-19 Pandemic Intensifies Economic Disparities Among Latinos, Latinas in WA State

The new brief from LCH shows that Latino men and women are experiencing disproportionate economic hardships, with Latina women facing higher unemployment rates and caretaking responsibilities.

University of Washington, Seattle: As part of a COVID-19 policy brief, the Latino Center for Health reports that many Washington state Latinos are not able to meet their basic needs, including healthcare, food and housing security.

For Latinas (Hispanic women), the unemployment rate has risen more quickly than that of Latinos (Hispanic men) throughout the pandemic. At the start of the pandemic, Latinas left the workforce at twice the rate of Latinos. Eight months later, this disparity doubled. In addition, compared to other women in the workforce, Latinas left jobs at a rate three times higher than white women and four times higher than Black women.

“Latinas are facing a disproportionate economic impact from the pandemic,” said Research Coordinator Miriana C Duran, MD, MPH. “In addition to experiencing high unemployment rates, having new childcare responsibilities at home due to school closures has forced them to leave the workforce at an alarming rate. Latinas need policies that support an equitable and inclusive post-pandemic recovery.”

As essential workers, many Latinos and Latinas have experienced significantly higher job loss, decreased work hours, and work-related income as compared with whites. According to the LCH survey study, 60 percent of all participants reported their household income was reduced due to the pandemic and 44 percent of the participants reported not being able to meet their basic needs.

“Latinos have suffered from losses and poor health due to COVID-19,” said Co-Author Aida Hidalgo-Arroyo, PhD. “They have faced dire personal and financial struggles despite their essential role in keeping the country and the economy moving…it is about time we support them back.”

LCH policy recommendations include:

  • Expanding the federal unemployment benefits through Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Emergency Paid Leave and Emergency Family and Medical Leave.
  • Increasing the minimum wage and eliminating tipped minimum wage.
  • Increasing relief funding for childcare.
  • Enhancing worker rights and protections such as safety protocols for essential workers.
  • Providing support to undocumented Latino and Latina immigrants.

This policy brief is part of LCH’s COVID-19 policy brief series. LCH researchers used data from the 2019 Census QuickFacts website and the WA State Department of Health COVID-19 Dashboard.

Other recommendations for increasing vaccine uptake among Latinos can be found in our recent policy briefs on vaccine hesitancy and COVID-19 information sources.

2021 Symposium: COVID-19 and Latino Experiences in WA State 

Nuestra Salud, Nuestro Futuro

On October 13, 2021, representatives from across urban and rural regions of WA state shared data and stories about the pandemic’s impact on their respective Latinx/e communities, with a focus on what’s worked well and what challenges lie ahead. COVID-19 is still disproportionately affecting Latinx/e communities, and it is clear that we need grassroots, community-based efforts combined with top-down efforts to find solutions and continue strengthening Latinos’ health and well-being. Take a look at the symposium program and videos below to learn more.

Representatives participated in discussions that focused on issues impacting the Latinx/e communities and produced key policy recommendations that aim to inform COVID recovery resource allocation and policymaking necessary to promote health equity for Latino communities in Washington. We identified four areas of significance to our Latino communities in pandemic times:

  • COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts
  • Mental Health & Wellbeing
  • Return-to-School
  • Mutual Aid

Read our policy briefs to learn how we can support COVID recovery and health equity for Latinx communities.

Watch the Symposium

Grounding Remarks by WA Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah

Para ver en español,
haga click aquí.

Update on Current State of COVID-19 in WA by Dr. Santiago Neme

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haga click aquí.

Panel 1B: Return-to-School

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haga click aquí.

Update on Vaccination Rates among WA Latinos by Dr. Leo Morales

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haga click aquí.

Panel 1A: Barriers and Facilitators to Ongoing Vaccination Efforts

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haga click aquí.

Panel 2A: Mental Health & Wellbeing

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haga click aquí.

Panel 2B: Successful Community Mutual Aid Efforts

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haga click aquí.

All Panels: Moderator Report Out

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haga click aquí.

Discussion led by CHA Executive Director Maria Sigüenza

Para ver en español, haga click aquí.

Symposium Planning Committee

Nora Araujo
Community Outreach Specialist
Community Outreach Department
Consulate of Mexico in Seattle

Aida Hidalgo, PhD, MSc
Promotora de Salud
Ventanilla de Salud Program
Consulate of Mexico in Seattle

Carolina Lucero, MSW
Latino Center for Health Advisory Board member

Tomas Madrigal, PhD
Equity Coordinator
COVID-19 Response Community Engagement Taskforce
Washington State Department of Health

Nina Martinez
Board Chair
Latino Civic Alliance (LCA)

Milvia Berenice Pacheco Salvatierra
Artist and President
Movimiento Afrolatino Seattle (MÁS)

Maria Cristina Rojas, MD
Nephrology Specialist
Confluence Health–Wenatchee

Maria Sigüenza
Executive Director
WA State Commission on Hispanic Affairs (CHA)

Martin Valadez, MA
Regional Director, Heritage University Tri-Cities Campus & Interim Executive Director, Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Thank you to our Sponsors!

COVID-19 Vaccination Rates among Washington State’s Latinos are Improving, but Challenges Remain

A new policy brief from LCH reports that, although Washington state has made significant progress towards vaccinating Latinos against COVID-19, some urban and rural Latinx communities are lagging behind and remain at significant risk of COVID-19 infections.

University of Washington, Seattle: As part of a newly released COVID-19 policy brief, the Latino Center for Health reports that overall in Washington state, the rate of fully vaccinated individuals among Latinos twelve years of age and older was 54.6% as of September 29, 2021, up from 40.5% in July (2021), representing a 33.4% increase in the number of vaccinated Latinos.

“The greatest risk we face now is to be complacent about the COVID-19 pandemic. We cannot rest until we have reached all unvaccinated and under-vaccinated Latinos in our state,” said LCH co-Director Leo S. Morales, MD, PhD, who wrote the policy brief. 

Although progress has been made since July, this is a critical moment to reexamine vaccination rates among Latinos, with approximately 341,808 of the estimated 752,802 Latinos twelve years of age and older in our state remaining partially vaccinated or unvaccinated. Approval of COVID-19 vaccines for 5–11 year-olds will result in 156,577 additional Latinx children in the state becoming eligible to for vaccination.

This policy brief urges our state’s elected leadership to continue their support of community-based organizations and trusted community leaders who use culturally and linguistically tailored approaches to increase access and overcome hesitancy to COVID-19 vaccines in Latinx communities.

Other recommendations for increasing vaccine uptake among Latinos can be found in our recent policy briefs on vaccine hesitancy and COVID-19 information sources.

This policy brief is part of LCH’s COVID-19 policy brief series. LCH researchers used data from the 2019 Census QuickFacts website and the WA State Department of Health COVID-19 Dashboard.

Download the policy brief here:

LatinxVaccinationRatesOctober2021Download

Survey finds Latinos trust TV, social media, & CBOs for COVID-19 information

A survey conducted by the Latino Center for Health in partnership with Sea Mar Community Health Centers has 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.

See the latest in our COVID-19 policy brief series: Examining Trusted Sources of COVID-19 Information among Latinos.

Strengthening communication strategies can have lasting effects on the Latino community’s health and be applied to future health initiatives to combat misinformation and help Latinos make informed choices. LCH calls for institutions, including local health jurisdictions, healthcare providers, and hospitals, to create communications related to COVID-19 prevention and treatment that:

Use communication strategies that prioritize the diverse media habits of Latino audiences.

Tailor messaging for age and language groups within the Latino community.

Strengthen partnerships with trusted CBOs to deepen their reach and relationship with the Latino communities.

Prioritize targeted communications for social media, TV, and community-based organizations.

Healthcare providers are a primary trusted source of information for Spanish and English-speaking Latinos and should consider using culturally tailored communication strategies in English and Spanish when communicating with their Latino patients.

For more recommendations and information about the survey, click here.

The Seattle Times features Dr. Morales in recent article on the risk of COVID-19 delta variant

Read the article in English here: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/as-the-delta-variant-grips-washington-state-latino-population-faces-steep-covid-risk/

Lea el artículo en español aquí: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/a-medida-que-la-variante-delta-se-propaga-en-el-estado-de-washington-la-poblacion-latina-enfrenta-un-alto-riesgo-de-covid/

Vaccination Rates Among Washington State Latinos Remain Low as Delta Variant Emerges in the U.S.

A new policy brief from LCH 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. Read the policy brief here.

University of Washington, Seattle: Although significant progress has been made in vaccinating the overall population of Washington State against COVID-19, Latino communities remain vulnerable to infection as the majority remain unvaccinated or partially vaccinated. As part of a COVID-19 policy brief, LCH reports that in Washington State as a whole, only 35 percent of Latinos are fully vaccinated, 6 percent are partially vaccinated, and 60 percent are unvaccinated.

“With the growing threat of the COVID-19 Delta variant in our region, it is imperative that we vaccinate as many Latinos as possible before the fall when schools reopen and cooler temperatures will drive infection rates higher,” said LCH co-Director Leo S. Morales, MD, PhD, who wrote the policy brief.

This policy brief is part of LCH’s COVID-19 policy brief series. LCH researchers used data from the 2019 Census QuickFacts website and the WA State Department of Health COVID-19 Dashboard.

Hispanics/Latinos have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 infection and deaths nationally and locally. In Washington State, as of June 15th, 2021, nearly one-third (29%) of all COVID-19 cases were among Latinos, even though Latinos only account for 13% of the state’s population. Counties with the largest numbers of unvaccinated Latinos include King (120,226), Yakima (82,916), Peirce (71,379), Snohomish (58,440), and Franklin (40,084) counties.

The attached policy brief urges county and state officials, including elected representatives, to strengthen their support of grassroots, community-based organizations. This support is vital to expand access and overcome hesitancy to COVID-19 vaccines among Latinos in Washington.

Support at the state and county level will protect unvaccinated and partially vaccinated Latinos for the fall season when the spread of the Delta variant is expected to intensify.

Read The Full Policy Brief Here

South Park Community Center Vaccination Clinic, May 2021. Photo by Hugo Ludeña.

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The Latino Center for Health is committed to advancing the field of Latino health through building capacity to support culturally responsive research and shaping the next generation of leaders equipped to respond to current and emerging health issues facing diverse Latino communities in the state and region. Through prioritizing community-academic partnerships, professional training and mentorship, and innovative research approaches, the Latino Center for Health positions itself as a critical resource to inform policy development and effective practices promoting health in urban and rural settings across Washington state.

Dr. Aisenberg featured in Univision report on COVID-19 & Mental Health among WA Latinos

Latino Center for Health co-director Dr. Gino Aisenberg was featured in this report from Univision Seattle regarding our recently published policy brief on the increased prevalence of depression and anxiety among Latinos during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is part of our COVID-19 policy brief series.

Click here to view Univision’s report.

Click here to learn more about our recently published policy brief, “Depression and Anxiety among Latinos: Urgent Call for Mental Health Services.”

Depression and Anxiety among Latinos: Urgent Call for Mental Health Services

A new survey 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.

University of Washington, Seattle: The prevalence of depression and anxiety among Latinos in WA state increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new survey study conducted by the Latino Center for Health. As part of a COVID-19 policy brief, LCH reports 13% and 16% of respondents scored “depression likely” and “anxiety likely”, respectively. Additionally, 9% of participants’ scores indicate clinically significant comorbidity of anxiety and depression.

This policy brief is part of LCH’s COVID-19 policy brief series. LCH researchers used data from the “Understanding Washington Latinos’ Experiences Around COVID-19” survey developed by the center in partnership with Sea Mar Community Health Centers.

Latinos are disproportionately affected by stressors that negatively impact their mental health. Out of all survey respondents, 39% indicated that they were unemployed, 41% reported that they were uninsured, and 57% reported having completed a high school education or less.

“COVID-19 has illuminated and exacerbated disparities in anxiety and depression impacting Latinos. WA state must do much more to provide accessible, and culturally and linguistically appropriate mental health services for all Latinos in our state, including rural and urban, insured and uninsured, migrant and non-migrant, and immigrant and non-immigrant,” said LCH co-Director Leo S. Morales, MD, PhD, principal investigator of the study.

Overall, scores for “depression likely” and “anxiety likely” were higher among younger (18-30 years old) and older participants (>65 years old), women, divorced, those with higher education, and those with lower incomes.

This policy brief contains a list of recommendations to improve and promote access to culturally and linguistically responsive mental health services to urban and rural Latinos in Washington state. Some short- and long-term recommendations include:

  • Make temporary waivers for telehealth (telemedicine and telemental health) services permanent.
  • Increase access to evidence-based, culturally responsive telephone Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) depression care.
  • Incentivize college and university educational programs across the state to strengthen and enhance their equity curriculum through developing and implementing Latino mental health curriculum and tracks.

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Sea Mar Community Health Centers, founded in 1978, is a community-based organization committed to providing quality, comprehensive health, human, housing, educational and cultural services to diverse communities, specializing in service to Latinos in Washington state.Sea Mar’snetwork of services includes more than 90 medical, dental, and behavioral health clinics in WA state and a wide variety of nutritional, social, and educational services.