Recorded presentation

Lourdes A. Rivera, JD, National Health Law Program, 2639 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90034, 310-204-6010, rivera@healthlaw.org

Traditional reproductive rights groups, focusing on “choice” have not been viewed as meeting Latinas’ broad reproductive health care needs. Latina women disproportionately are low-income and uninsured, and thus have fewer health care resources overall. Limited-English proficiency, immigration status, lack of transportation, and lack of culturally responsive and appropriate information and services compound these issues.

Latinas also are affected by the increasing role of hospitals, clinics, and providers that impose religious restrictions as the only source of health access in many rural and urban low-income areas. Increased participation of religious entities in Medicaid and SCHIP, including HMOs, make it difficult for Latinas to obtain confidential, timely reproductive health services. These services include contraception (including sterilization), emergency contraception, HIV/AIDS prevention, cancer screening, abortion, minor consent, and other services.

Failure to recognize existing Latina leadership and the role of family, religion and spirituality in Latino communities and to prominently support healthy childbearing has limited the ability of mainstream groups to work in partnership with Latinas. Latinas around the country are organizing to build a movement that addresses reproductive and sexual health from a human and civil rights perspective and which addresses the broad context that affects reproductive health. This presentation will discuss these initiatives on the national, California and Los Angeles County levels and provide recommendations on how to work collaboratively.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify what priority issues affect Latinas’ reproductive health.
• Recognize the growing leadership from within the Latina community to confront these challenges.
• Frame reproductive health and rights in a manner that resonates with Latinas in order to better collaborate on organizing strategies.

Keywords: Latinas, Reproductive Health

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.

Recorded presentation