National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health (NLIRH) is a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1994 with a vision for Latinas to be empowered to make informed reproductive health decisions for themselves. Our mission is: To enhance the quality of life of Latinas nationwide, especially their reproductive health, through advocacy; networking; impacting public policy; and information, education, and communication. Our concern for the health of Latinas is intensified because Latinas comprise an increasing percentage of women of reproductive age (15-49) in the continental U.S., as Latinos are quickly becoming the U.S.'s largest minority population. As of mid-1996, Latinas were an estimated 10.7% of all women of reproductive age; that number is projected to be 27% by mid-2050. What little data exists about Latinas indicates alarming statistics such as: only 59% of U.S. Latinas of childbearing age use contraception, the rate of adolescent births among Latinas is the highest in the nation, and 16% of all women with AIDS are Latinas.
Over the last five years, NLIRH has undertaken grassroots organizing across the U.S. to create a national Latina reproductive health and rights agenda and to formalize a network of Latinas working on these issues. Because of the wide range of health issues and sociopolitical factors that adversely affect Latina reproductive health, NLIRH has developed a comprehensive prochoice agenda that includes: HIV/AIDS; adolescent/unplanned pregnancy; breast and cervical cancer; maternal and child health; domestic violence; welfare reform; Medicaid/managed care; English-only initiatives and language barriers; and immigration reform.
Learning Objectives: 1. Identify the need for U.S. Latinas to organize regionally and nationally for reproductive health advocacy 2. Describe the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health organizing strategy
Keywords: Latinas, Reproductive Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
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.