Oral

Hispanic/Latinos (HL) represent an estimated 15% of the US population (US Census Bureau, 2007), during the next three decades this population is expected to greatly increase and will impact many key areas of our society including the health sector. To appropriately address the health needs of Hispanics/Latinos a clear understanding of the social factors that influence health behaviors and experiences will be critical. The purpose of this session is to explore how gender, English language proficiency, perceived racism, and social networks influence health access, health experiences, and mediate how health information is understood. This session is relevant to public health leaders and providers interested in exploring strategies to improve programs directed at Hispanic/Latino Communities and to leaders in academia interested in understanding social factors that influence the health experience of Hispanics/Latinos.

Session Objectives: 1. Assess differences by gender on health access, English language proficiency, literacy levels, health behaviors, perceived discrimination and depression. 2. Describe the relationship between acculturation and adherence to multiple cancer risk factors among US Hispanics. 3. Discuss use of both health index score and patterns of adherence to understand cancer risk among US Hispanics. 4. Describe patterns of perceived racism and binge drinking among rural Latino immigrant men. 5. Explain the relationship between perceived racism and binge drinking among rural Latino immigrant men. 6. Explain how Latinas involve their social network in health care. 7. Describe the challenges of adapting an obesity prevention toolkit, with several components, including a DVD and recipe book, to a Latino audience.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)