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Show A26 The Salt Lake Tribune NATION _Sunday, November21, 1993 Latino Community Is Facing a Health Crisis in U.S. BY MATTHEW KATZ aa GANNETT NEWSSERVICE WASHINGTON — Latino leaders are worried that their community — projected to be the country’s biggest minority group by 2010 — is progressively facing grave health problems that the nation is ill-equipped to handle. Latinos are at greaterrisk than therest of the country for several seriousillnesses, including diabe- tes, cervical cancer and — with blacks being an exception— HIV/ AIDS, research shows. They are less likely than other ethnic groups to have health insurance. And perhaps more National Hispanic Medical Association. “Andit’s getting worse.” » It is also a still-emerging and America,they often work multipie jobs to make ends meet. Children spin, she explained. One result may be the AIDS are more vulnerable to tempta- nearly three times that of nonLatino white men, and among and others said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Latino some diseases or illnesses. And Asthat happens,the situation is attracting notice. A U.S. Com- Hispanic Caucus, plans to introducebroadlegislation next year to take on a “macho,” male-oriented regardless of statistics showing they disproportionately suffer from somehealth problems, they have a longer average life span mission for Civil Rights report last month blamed the government for neglecting Latinos, saying the federal Department of and pump more moneyfor education into community health rate among Latino men that is than blacksor whites. Health and Human Services had Part of the problem of recognizing the severity of health prob- failed “to implement and enforce concerns: civil rights laws” in health care lemsof Latinosis that they often by, for example, not providing were grouped with other races in translation services for Latinos. agencies — statistics that only now are beginning to be sorted out. chairman of a health-care task the statistics of numerousfederal Congress is becomingattuned. Rep. Ciro Rodriguez. D-Texas, force for the Congressional improve heaith care for Latinos centers. Several issues are driving Latino women,six times higher than that of white women, the Menlo Park, Calif.-based Kaiser @ Cultural backgroundandreligi beliefs of Latinos can result in silence aboutsensitive topicslike sex, Latino leaderssay. Sonia Ruiz of La Raza,the largest Latino constituency organization, works with communities to Family Foundation reports. Non- Latino blacks, both men and tions like drug use and sex, Ruiz girls are less likely to report using a condom and morelikely to get pregnantthan girls in other ethnic groups. women, have higher AIDS rates than Latinosor whites. Ruiz also sees a break-upof the The CDC also reports that 15 Latino family structure. When See Next Page 5 Sales Installations * Service Natural Gas ‘Most homes up to 1500 sq. ft. ‘Normalinstaltation Heating NATURAL Specials 4 495 Free estimates Residential & Commercial 24 Hour EmergencySales a —7 oa" Expires ge >. SAUDER STUDENT DESK 4 DRAWER CHEST 5 PC. HARDWOODDINETTE SET FREE $5 BY DESIGN rene “> $29.99 $39.99 $149.99 Box of Sweet’s chocolate orangesticks with this ad FURNITURE WAREHOUSE7836 S cases Te 4866 S. RedwoodRd. 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And be sure to stop and take a look around at our sparkling new decor — it’s sure to get you in the spirit of the season. With 150 shops and restaurants and oll these holiday happenings, where else would you want to be but South Towne this season? SOUTHTOWNE SSUUBIELDERUERAED of those immigrants, lacking the supervision they previously had, Heating & Air Conditioning sometimesinconsistentsituation. ellos first-generation Latinos — typically family oriented — come to in Latino homes, they are apt to Latinos are less susceptible to unsettling, other studies show the health of someLatinossteadily worsensthe Iongerthey live in America. ~ “T think it is a crisis situation,” said Elena Rios, president of the raise awareness about medical coverage for children. 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