A recent report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stirred up concern among Latino health advocates. The CDC released new findings last Thursday that show autism rates are increasing among young children in the U.S., with one in every 88 children diagnosed with autism-related disorders. While the number of non-Hispanic White children who receive this diagnosis has been traditionally higher than the number of affected Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black children, the report also shows that autism rates among Hispanic children are increasing at a faster pace as compared to any other ethnic group.
Fox News Latino reports:
The largest increases in autism rates over time were among Latino children at 110 percent, followed by black children at 91 percent [and white children at 70 percent].However, experts warn these numbers may not reflect the “real” increase in Latino children suffering from autism because they may respond to other factors such as culture and language.
“Some of the increase is due to the way children are identified, diagnosed and served,” said Coleen Boyle, director of CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities to HealthDay.com. “Although exactly how much is attributable to these factors is not known.
The picture isn’t completely grim. The fact that more Latino children with autism are being adequately diagnosed means that they gain the opportunity to receive proper treatment—that is, if they have health insurance. Latino children represent two-fifths of the uninsured children in the U.S. This figure serves two purposes. It underscores the importance of extending health coverage to Latino children through initiatives such as the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and the Immigrant Children’s Health Improvement Act (ICHIA), and highlights the importance of arming health providers, parents, and families with adequate tools for the proper diagnosis of Latino children at risk.
If you are interested in learning more on this topic and potential solutions, join NCLR’s Institute for Hispanic Health (IHH) and the Health Policy Project (HPP), with generous support from Eli Lilly, at the 2012 inaugural Health Summit, held July 5 and 6, 2012 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Convention Center.
You can also get the latest on health policy and read analysis from fellow Latino health advocates on our Facebook group here: www.facebook.com/groups/nclrhealthsummit/