A thorough examination of the health status of Georgia's Latino population has unveiled a nuanced narrative that requires immediate attention. The Latino Community Fund (LCF Georgia), a prominent nonprofit advocating for equity and justice, has released a groundbreaking report addressing the challenges and opportunities for well-being and self-sufficiency in the state's Latino community.

The state of health within this vibrant and diverse population is not just a matter of numbers; it's illustrated by various stories and community voices from across Georgia as part of the surveys, key informant interviews and focus groups part of the methodology.  

The report, led by LCF Georgia, was developed by a diverse team of academics, key informants, practitioners, community members, and healthcare professionals.

“I am excited to have, for the first time, two Latinas lead the research project and represent their institutions. We are immensely grateful to Dr. Roxana Chicas of the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University and Dr. Natalie D. Hernandez-Green of Morehouse School of Medicine for their talent and expertise and their teams of students that shed light on the intricacies of health disparities, uncovering a compelling story that affects not only the Latino community but other underserved communities in the entire state.

Some of the key findings revealed in this report include that:

• Access Barriers: Challenges such as lack of health insurance, income, cultural stigma, and limited availability of culturally competent care providers hinder access to quality healthcare.

• Prevalence of Diabetes and Hypertension: Rates among Hispanic/Latinos in Georgia exceed the state average, with under-diagnosis due to healthcare access barriers requiring urgent attention from the healthcare community and state policy.

• Special attention is needed for farmworkers and Mayan communities in Georgia, as the lack of baseline health information has hindered the diagnosis of their reality and the development of mid- to long-term solutions related to health access.

• Immigration matters and high rates of uninsured individuals are primary factors limiting access to preventive and early intervention services for Hispanic/Latinos.

• Mental health issues, including anxiety and depression, are a serious concern, especially among teenagers and specific groups, such as undocumented and farmworker Hispanic/Latinos.

• The Hispanic/Latino community in Georgia faces high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity and lower rates of prenatal care, despite having higher fertility rates compared to other ethnic groups. 

• Although the Hispanic/Latino community boasts a higher life expectancy among other ethnic groups, it does not necessarily translate to better overall health. Recent years have seen a decline in life expectancy, particularly due to the impact of COVID-19. The report underscores that unless the health conditions of Hispanic/Latinos improve, chronic diseases like Type 2 diabetes could lead to a significant deterioration within this group.

• Strong community networks offer valuable opportunities for health workers and community workers to expand education and vetted, credible health information.

• Ninety-one percent of Latino homes report income, signifying a very high rate of workforce participation and entrepreneurship, however, 1 in 6 Latinos lives in poverty.