Comparison of
Uninsured Rates

HEALTH

• The four leading causes of death among Latinas are heart disease, cancer, cerebrovascular diseases, and diabetes.  Among Hispanic women, mortality rates from several diseases are lower than those of White women, including stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cancers of the respiratory system and breasts. Mortality rates from AIDS and homicide, however, are significantly higher for Hispanic women. (Key Health Issues Facing Latinas, April 2002)
• Latinas have the highest incidence rate for cervical cancer, in all age groups among all women, and the second highest death rate from the disease. (Cancer Facts & Figures for Hispanics 2001-2002)
• Latinas have the highest teen birth rate among the major racial/ethnic groups in the U.S. (The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy among Latinas in the U.S. 2004)
• 51% of Latinas in the U.S. become pregnant at least once by age 20. (The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy among Latinas in the U.S. 2004)
• Latina teens aged 15-19 had a pregnancy rate of 137.9 per 1,000 well above the national average of 83.6 per 1,000 15-19 year old girls in 2000. (The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy Among Latinas in the U.S. 2004)
• 47% of Latinas are overweight, compared with only 33% of White women. (California Policy Research Center)
• Latinas and African-American women together represent less than 1/4 of all U.S. women, yet they account for more than 78% of AIDS cases reported to date among women in our country. In 2000, they represented 80% of all cases reported. (Center for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Latinas and African-American women are two to three times more likely to be uninsured than are White women: 37% of Latinas and 23% of African-American women are uninsured, compared to 13% of White women. (National Council of Women’s Organization) 
• Latinas have a significantly higher rate of suicide attempts than their White, African-American, and Asian peers. Latinas who had better coping skills and more emotionally available relationships with their mothers were less likely to attempt suicide. (Fordham University, “Connection Between Suicide and Hispanic Girls,” December 2002)
• Latinas are the 3rd most likely group to be victims of violent crimes. Aggravated assault was more common among Latinas (7 per 1,000) than among White women (5 per 1,000). Latinas had a lower rate of victimizations by acquaintances or friends (10 per 1,000) than African-American women (17 per 1,000) or White women (13 per 1,000). (The National Center for Victims of Crime, 2002) 
• Latinas represent 30% of the uninsured, more than any other race/ethnic group (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
• 8.7% of all women over the age of 20 in the U.S. have diabetes. (American Diabetes Association, Diabetes Statistics for Women, 2003)
• More than one-half of women (54%) say they face challenges when choosing a health plan, and more than one-third (35%) do not consider themselves knowledgeable about their health benefits. (AETNA, September 2004)
• Hispanics have diabetes at double the prevalence of Whites. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2002)
• The uninsured rate for Hispanics, who may be of any race, was 32.7% in 2003 — unchanged from 2002. (U.S. Census Bureau)
• From 1991-2003, the overall birth rate for 15-19 year olds dropped 32.7%. The Latina birth rate for that same age group and time period only dropped 21.3%. (The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, 2004)