Health care costs and diabetes are the primary health care concerns for Latinos, whether they were born in the United States or immigrated here from other countries, according to new research.
The survey, a joint product by NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health, found that more than half of all Latinos (52 percent) aren't confident they would have enough money or health insurance to pay for a major illness.
Nearly one in five (19 percent) said diabetes was the biggest health problem facing their families, beating out cancer and other problems. The problem was even bigger for non-immigrant Latinos, at 22 percent.
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hispanic adults are 1.7 times more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to have been diagnosed with diabetes by a physician, and 1.5 times more likely to die from diabetes.
Cancer was mentioned by 5 percent of Latinos while high blood pressure/stroke was mentioned by 4 percent, according to the poll.
Researchers said the results were surprising as previous polls found that cancer was Latinos' biggest health concern, but said the poll highlights the importance of acknowledgement of diabetes awareness in their community.
Diabetes was the top concern mentioned for each of the six Latino groups surveyed; Mexican Six Latino groups were surveyed; Mexican (22 percent); Central American (15 percent); South American (21 percent); Cuban (12 percent); Puerto Rican (14 percent) and Dominican (12 percent), according to the NPR poll.
Latinos also are among the largest uninsured populations in the country.
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