Abstract

The Latino population of the United States is expected to increase substantially in the next 25 years. Although recent health promotion and disease prevention interventions have improved the health of the majority of Americans, the Latino community has derived less benefit from these advances. This is due to a number of interrelated factors, including a disproportionate representation of Latino Americans in the low socioeconomic strata and in the uninsured population. Even when insured, Latino Americans face significant barriers to health promotion and disease prevention. This policy analysis identifies barriers at the organizational and structural level of health care delivery, as well as at the level of the medical encounter. It provides a practical framework for intervention that is founded on the recruitment of Latino Americans into the health care workforce and leadership, the restructuring of health systems to be more responsive to the needs of diverse populations, and health care provider education on how to improve cross-cultural understanding and communication. By investing in a multifaceted approach that addresses barriers to health promotion and disease prevention in the Latino population, we can improve the quality of care delivered to this population and help eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health care.