The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #65299

Julie Ann Parrish, MA¹, Coleman Chandler, MPH¹, Allison Lothman¹, Monica L. Wendel, MA, MPH¹, James N Burdine, Dr PH¹, Sanu Somachandran, MPH¹, Jay Jezierski, MPH¹, Rachel Annette Summers¹, and Michael R.J. Felix². (1) Community Health Development Program, School of Rural Public Health, Texas A&M University, 1103 University Drive, Suite 100, College Station, TX 77840, 979-845-6957, japarrish@srph.tamushsc.edu, (2) Community Health Development Specialists, 3027 Walburt Ave, Allentown, PA 18104

With a steadily increasing population, Hispanics now comprise 32% of Texas’ population, with projections of becoming the majority by 2025. On a national level, “Hispanics represent the fastest-growing part of the U.S. population, with census projections that they will overtake [African Americans] as the country's largest minority group in five years and become one-fourth of population by 2050.” Concurrently, the health status of Hispanics is also among the lowest. Only 57% of Texas’ Hispanic population has health care insurance coverage.

The Community Health Development Program at Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, School of Rural Public Health conducted a community health needs assessment in the upper Rio Grande Valley—including Starr and Hidalgo Counties—composed of 97.5% and 88.3% of Hispanics respectively. The assessment entailed: secondary data collection, surveying sample populations in each county, a series of community discussion groups, and bringing together existing health services to jointly address the health needs of local residents. Preliminary findings indicate that health education and promotion strategies need to target: informing residents of available services, educating them about managing chronic conditions like diabetes, alleviating fears of being deported for seeking care, helping residents identify other locations of health services besides the emergency room, and helping residents enroll in assistance programs.

Learning Objectives:

• 1)Describe the major access barriers facing residents in border populations.
• 2)Identify strategies for addressing those barriers through health education and promotion.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.