Research has shown that boys and men of color have worse health outcomes than their white counterparts— in California as well as across the country.
According to a 2009 report titled “The Socioeconomic, Health, Safety, and Education Disparities Faced by Boys and Men of Color in California,” Latinos are 3.1 times more likely to have limited access to health care and 4.8 times more likely to lack health insurance. They are also 4.1 times more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder than white boys and young men. Black boys and young men are 2.5 times more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Also, black men between the ages of 15 and 24, have a homicide death rate at least 16 times higher than of young white men, according to the report. And Latino men have a homicide rate five times greater than that of white men.
The good news is that researchers say there are solutions to these problems.
A book, “Changing Places: How communities will improve the Health of Boys of Color,” was recently released and it’s available for free downloading. The book includes research from prominent public health, policy, and social science researchers in the country.
The book was published by the UC Berkeley School of Law’s Warren Institute, along with The California Endowment.
Some of the researchers previewed their research findings at a two-day conference held in late September at the endowment’s headquarters in Los Angeles.
The book is available at http://www.boysandmenofcolor.org/about-the-book/
Download your free copy and see what you can do to help change these problems in your local communities!
-Yesenia Amaro Health care reporter
