THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH ON HISPANIC/LATINO HEALTH OUTCOMES
The relationship between social determinants of health (SDOH) and health disparities and inequities is complex and multilayered. SDOH are the conditions in which people are born, grow, learn, work, play, live, and age, and the wider set of structural factors shaping the conditions of daily life. Health disparities are the preventable differences in burden of disease, injury, violence, and opportunities to achieve optimal health experienced by socially disadvantaged groups. Health disparities are often the result of or exacerbated by intersecting SDOH factors.
SDOH can be grouped into five domains:
- Economic Stability
- Education Access and Quality
- Health Care Access and Quality
- Neighborhood and Built Environment
- Social and Community Context
Hispanics/Latinos contend with a wide range of intersecting SDOH factors that can lead to adverse health outcomes and contribute to growing health disparities within the population including disproportionately high rates of:
Hispanics/Latinos have the highest uninsured rate of any racial or ethnic group in the United States and are more likely to report poor communication with their health care provider. When a patient feels that receiving medical care is too expensive and that they can’t communicate with a provider because of language or cultural barriers, it can lead to receiving inadequate health services or avoiding care altogether.
Having access to timely, respectful care can help Hispanics/Latinos address or avoid preventable diseases and conditions. By addressing SDOH through a comprehensive approach, we can work to advance health equity and reduce health disparities among Hispanic/Latino populations.
Click on the headings below to learn more about the five SDOH domains and the role they play in health outcomes for Hispanic/Latino populations, as well as suggested reading curated by the OMH Knowledge Center librarians. The resources in this list are available to read and download for free. For more resources on the health of Hispanic/Latino populations in the United States, please visit the OMH Knowledge Center online catalog.
Economic Stability
Economic stability refers to having a steady income and enough resources to meet basic needs such as food, housing, healthcare, and transportation. People with economic stability are more likely to have good health outcomes, while those who are struggling financially are more likely to experience health problems.
- Associations Between Socioeconomic Status and Psychological Distress: An Analysis of Disaggregated Latinx Subgroups Using Data from the National Health Interview Survey. McSorley, A. M., and Bacong, A. M. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, v. 20, #6 (March): Art. 4751, 2023.
- Evaluating Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 Vaccination Outcomes in a Low-Income Hispanic Population. Lamb, C., Owens, C., Gamboa, W., and Lopez-Yunez, A. Vaccines, v. 11, #1 (January): Art. 148, 2023.
- Factors Associated with Use of Recreational Facilities and Physical Activity Among Low-Income Latino Adults. Heredia, N. I., Fernandez, M. E., Durand, C. P., Kohl, H. W., III, Ranjit, N., et al. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, v. 22, #3 (June), pp. 555–562, 2020.
- Hunger, Poverty, and Health During COVID-19 - Spotlight: Latinx Communities. Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), frac.org, 2021.
- Psychometric Assessment of the US Person-Centered Prenatal and Maternity Care Scales in a Low-Income Predominantly Latinx Population in California. Afulani, P. A., Coleman-Phox, K., Leon-Martinez, D., Fung, K. Z., Martinez, E., et al. BMC Women's Health, v. 23 (November 17): Art. 616, 2023.
Education Access and Quality
Access to educational resources and quality education plays a significant role in health. Education equips individuals with the knowledge and skills to understand health information and make informed decisions about their health and the healthcare system.
- Eyes on the Future: Inspiring Latino Middle School Youth to Pursue Careers in STEM Through Early Interactive Science Programming. Carrillo, L. A., Valdes, R. A., Desjarlais, E. B., Medic, V., and Kim, J. E. WMJ, v. 123, #1 (February), pp. 34–38, 2024.
- Impact of Family, Neighborhood, and Schools on Behavioral Health Needs of Justice-Involved Latinx Adolescents. Hoskins, D., Meza, J. I., Del Cid, M. V., Kemp, K., Koinis-Mitchell, D., et al. Couple & Family Psychology, v. 12, #3 (September), pp. 168–189, 2023.
- Latinas in Medicine: Evaluating and Understanding the Experience of Latinas in Medical Education: A Cross-Sectional Survey. Geiger, G., Kiel, L., Horiguchi, M., Martinez-Aceves, C., Meza, K., et al. BMC Medical Education, v. 24, #1 (January 3): Art. 4, 2024.
- Mitigating Childhood Food Insecurity During COVID-19: A Qualitative Study of How School Districts in California's San Joaquin Valley Responded to Growing Needs. Jowell, A. H., Bruce, J. S., Escobar, G. V., Ordonez, V. M., Hecht, C. A., et al. Public Health Nutrition, v. 26, #5 (May), pp. 1063–1073, 2023.
- School Screening Programs to Identify Hypertension in Hispanic Youth. Pollack, A. M., Hamilton, L. D., Jenkins, N. A., Lueders, P. C., and Luckasen, G. J. American Journal of Preventive Cardiology, v. 17 (March): Art. 100629, 2024.
Health Care Access and Quality
Health care access and quality of care is a fundamental social determinant of health. Geographic proximity, affordability, and availability of healthcare providers all influence how easily people can get the care they need. Approximately 10% of the U.S. population does not have health insurance, which can prevent individuals from seeking out healthcare services. Difficulty navigating the healthcare system and lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate care providers can also affect access to quality care.
- Disparities in Healthcare Access Experienced by Hispanic Chronic Kidney Disease Patients: A Cross-Sectional Analysis. Ashrafi, S. A., Alam, R. B., Kraay, A., Ogunjesa, B. A., and Schwingel, A. Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition, v. 43 (January 31): Art. 18, 2024.
- Health Insurance Coverage and Access to Care Among Latinos: Recent Trends and Key Challenges. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), aspe.hhs.gov, 2021.
- Institutional Barriers to Clinical Trial Exploration Experienced by the Latinx Community. Sandoval, S., Leung, R. K., Nguyen-Grozavu, F., Wang, R. M., and Sadler, G. R. Journal of Cancer Education, v. 38, #4 (April 29), pp. 1271–1276, 2023.
- Quality of Care for Latinx Children with Asthma: Associations with Language Concordance and Continuity of Care. Hodes, T., Marino, M., Lucas, J. A., Bazemore, A., Peterson, L., et al. Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, v. 36, #4 (August 9), pp. 616–625, 2023.
- Understanding the Barriers to COVID-19 Vaccine Among Hispanic/Latinx Communities. Milo, R. B., Aguayo, C., Chico, A. R., Rozo, J. A., Vásquez, I., et al. Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, v. 14 (January–December): Art. 21501319231174810, 2023.
Neighborhood and Built Environment
Neighborhoods play a key role in health. Where you live can significantly impact your health and well-being. Unfortunately, racial and ethnic minority populations and low-income residents are more likely to live in neighborhoods with higher health risks. Creating neighborhoods and environments that promote health and safety, like walkable communities and accessible greenspaces, can help improve health outcomes and quality of life.
- Change in Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status and Adherence to the Cancer Prevention Lifestyle Guidelines in Hispanic/Latino Adults: Results from the HCHS/SOL Study. Pichardo, M. S., Pichardo, C. M., Talavera, G. A., Gallo, L. C., Kuo, C. C., et al. Cancer Research Communications, v. 3, #10 (October 2), pp. 1981–1991, 2023.
- Cultural and Neighborhood Characteristics Associated with Activity-Specific Parenting Practices in Hispanic/Latino Youth: A Secondary Analysis of the Hispanic Community Children’s Health Study/Study of Latino Youth. Gonzalez, C. J., LeCroy, M. N., Daviglus, M. L., Van Horn, L., Gallo, L. C., et al. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, v. 46, #5 (February 2), pp. 732–744, 2023.
- Evaluation of Neighborhood-Level Disadvantage and Cognition in Mexican American and Non-Hispanic White Adults 50 Years and Older in the US. Wong, C. G., Miller, J. B., Zhang, F., Rissman, R. A., Raman, R., et al. JAMA Network Open, v. 6, #8 (August 30): Art. e2325325, 2023.
- Impacts of Individual Patient Language and Neighborhood Ethnic Enclave on COVID-19 Test Positivity Among Hispanic/Latinx Patients in San Francisco. Nguyen, K. H., Rubinsky, A. D., DeRouen, M. C., Kemper, K. E., Bibbins-Domingo, K., et al. Medical Care, v. 61, #2 (February), pp. 67–74, 2023.
- The Neighborhood Environment and Hispanic/Latino Health. Heredia, N. I., Xu, T., Lee, M., McNeill, L. H., and Reininger, B. M. American Journal of Health Promotion, v. 36, #1 (January), pp. 38–45, 2022.
Social and Community Context
Social connections matter. Relationships with family, friends, and community provide support, reduce stress, and influence healthy behaviors. Strong social connections and a sense of belonging within a community foster well-being. Discrimination, unsafe neighborhoods, and lack of resources can hinder getting the social support needed for good health.
- Food Insecurity and Type 2 Diabetes Among Latinos: Examining Neighborhood Cohesion as a Protective Factor. Osborn, B., Morey, B. N., Billimek, J., and Ro, A. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, v. 10, #4 (August 11), pp. 2061–2070, 2023.
- Integrating Spirituality and Religious Beliefs in a Mindfulness Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for PTSD with Latinx Unaccompanied Immigrant Children. Fortuna, L. R., Martinez, W., and Porche, M. V. Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, v. 16, #3 (April 21), pp. 481–494. 2023.
- “It Takes a Village”: Reflections from Participants After a Hispanic Community-Based Health Promotion Program. Korom, B., Malloy, M., Remmers, C., Welsch, E., Cevilla, M., et al. BMC Public Health, v. 24, #1 (January 20): Art. 237, 2024.
- The Role of Neighborhood Social Cohesion in the Association Between Seeing People Walk and Leisure-Time Walking Among Latino Adults. Murillo, R., Reesor-Oyer, L. M., Liu, Y., Desai, S., and Hernandez, D. C. Leisure Sciences, v. 45, #6 (January 1), pp. 594–605, 2024.
- The Role of Social Support and Acculturation Factors on Postpartum Mental Health Among Latinas in the MADRES Pregnancy Cohort. Corona, K., Yang, T., Dunton, G., Toledo-Corral, C., Grubbs, B., et al. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, v. 26, #1 (October 28), pp. 72–80, 2024.