New CDC Webpage Focuses on Disparities among Hispanic Youth
July 31,2008 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) has a new webpage that focuses on health disparities among Hispanic youth.
The webpage shows that, in 2006, an estimated 44.3 million Hispanics were living in the U.S., comprising more than 14% of the U.S. total population. Additionally, 34% of Hispanics were under the age of 18, compared with 23% of non-Hispanic whites. According to the webpage, most of the leading causes of illness and premature death among both Hispanic adults and youth are based on health behaviors typically established during childhood and adolescence.
Some of the health disparities experienced by Hispanic children and youth include:
- In 2001-2002, 39.9% of Mexican-American males aged 2-19 years were obese or overweight compared to 28.4% of non-Hispanic white males, and 31.8% of females in the same age group were obese or overweight compared with 18.9% of non-Hispanic white females; and
- Hispanic youth experience proportionately more anxiety-related behaviors, delinquency, and depression than do non-Hispanic white youth.
What are some factors that contribute to these disparities? According to the CDC, the causes of the health disparities experienced by Hispanics are complex and include the following factors: poverty, environmental threats, access to health care, acculturation and language barriers, and educational inequalities.
The Role of Educational Inequalities in Increasing Health Disparities
CDC’s new webpage also shows that health disparities are related to inequities in education. For instance, dropping out of school is associated with multiple social and health problems. In 2006, 59.3% of Hispanics aged 25 years and older earned a high school diploma, compared with 86.1% of non-Hispanic whites.
According to the CDC, overall, individuals with less education are more likely to experience a number of health risks such as obesity and substance abuse. And higher levels of education are associated with longer life and an increased understanding of basic health information and services.
In addition, good health is relevant to academic success. Health risks such as teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, and poor dietary choices, among others have a significant impact on how well students do in school.
CDC’s DASH is currently working to address health and educational disparities among students and has proposed strategies for consideration by state and local education and health agencies including: focus programmatic efforts, raise awareness, build partnerships, and document impact.
For additional information on CDC’s work to curb health disparities among youth, please click here. To access DASH’s health disparities webpage, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/disparities/hispanic/index.htm.