Healthcare inequality in the Latino population.

In the Latino population, there is a huge discrepancy in healthcare due to not only the language barrier, but also financial and economic reasons. Growing up in a hispanic and latino community, I can honestly say that a lot of hispanics and Latino people don't really go to the doctor. It's not a common occurrence and a lot of the time, rely on old traditional remedies to cure ailments or help fight sicknesses.

Currently, there are several diseases that affect the Latino population overwhelmingly. "In a recent poll released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Harvard School of Public Health and NPR nearly one in five Latinos, the highest percentage for the survey, said that diabetes was the biggest health issue for them in their families" (LULAC, 2019). Diabetes is also a common occurrence in the nation as obesity rates are higher and higher due to lack of inactivity and or good dietary choices. Hispanic foods tend to use a lot of overwhelmingly high sodium ingredients in their food choices, increasing not only Diabetes but also Hypertension or cardiovascular diseases. But also any sort of desert foods tend to be foods of high sugar content and of very little nutritious value. "A Latino child born today has a 50% chance of developing diabetes in his/her lifetime due to main risk factors like obesity and physical inactivity" (LULAC, 2019). 

A lot of hispanic and older generation folks tend to rely on old traditional home remedies for treatments rather than conventional medication. For example, a tea made out of cinnamon known as a "Te de Canela" in spanish is common for several different ailments and treatments. "Because cinnamon tea reduces blood sugar levels, there is less insulin in the system, causing the body to store less fat and, therefore, lose weight" (El Dia, 2017). But there is also things such as Vaporub that is commonly used for things such as colds, flu symptoms and stuffed sinus's. "Te de Manzanilla" or Chamomile tea is also a very frequently used drink. "it's also used to treat insomnia; inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and rheumatism; and gas pains, menstrual cramps and constipation" (Livestrong, 2019). 

These are just a few examples as to what certain non conventional methods of medicine treat. But this is all due to the fact that not only do they work, but people do not go to see actual doctors for real check ups. 

"Hispanic health is often shaped by factors such as language/cultural barriers, lack of access to preventive care, and the lack of health insurance. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has cited some of the leading causes of illness and death among Hispanics, which include heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries (accidents), stroke, and diabetes" (HHS, 2019). 

"According to a 2015 U.S. Census Bureau report, 66 percent of Hispanics in comparison to 92 percent non-Hispanic whites have a high school diploma. 14.8 percent of Hispanics in comparison to 34.2 percent of non-Hispanic whites have a bachelor's degree or higher" (HHS, 2019). 

These are some of the underlying issues that Latinos face in terms of accessing healthcare. Growing up I experienced some of these myself and also witnessed a lot of these things occur. I know in my mothers' side of the family Type 2 Diabetes is rampant and half of her siblings had it including my grandparents. My grandmother still to this day uses heavily home remedies to treat or cure a lot of things. 

-RC