By Rodrigo Hernandez
Two local health professionals recently discussed health concerns among Latinx individuals with Gazette Chicago as part of DePaul University’s Chicago HealthText project.
Sonia Ayala, director of care management at Esperanza Health Centers, contributed to the conversation as a licensed clinical social worker and former care manger. Esther Sciammarella, director of the Chicago Hispanic Health Coalition, explained her role and observations from an educational perspective.
Ayala reported financial hardships, chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, and COVID-19 as the leading stress factors for Latinx patients.
The virus and pandemic had significant impact on her patients’ wellbeing. “Before we received the vaccine at our clinics, our patients would often share with us how afraid they were and how they had family members, friends, and neighbors who passed away from COVID,” said Ayala. “Being there for our patients during this time made a huge difference in their overall wellbeing.”
Financial concerns increase health stresses, as Latinx patients may not be able to afford necessary services.
“Our patients often struggle to pay for their medications; durable medical equipment items such as blood pressure monitors, glucometers, etc.,; rent; and food,” said Ayala. “Our care coordination/care management teams help our patients with these barriers and connect them to internal or external resources,” noting that Esperanza has a patient emergency fund to help cover some expenses for patients.
Educating health promoters
Sciammarella supports the coalition as an educator for health promoters. “It is important that Latinos have knowledge about health and how to take care of themselves,” she said.
Her program addresses different health issues and specialties, including youth, men, women, cancer, and the immune system.
Sciammarella highlighted economic struggles among undocumented people. “People that are undocumented would never be able to see their retirement money since they don’t have Social Security,” said Sciammarella, emphasizing, however, that undocumented people still can get health insurance.
She pointed to violence as another major stressor. “Violence is an issue in the Hispanic community, and the legal system is difficult,” as there are vast differences between the legal system in Hispanic countries and the United States, she said.
Focusing on equity, Sciammarella addressed several needs such as increasing support for Spanish-speaking, bilingual nurses and doctors. She also mentioned how problematic getting medical care can be for undocumented people.
“As long as we don’t solve the problem of giving people the opportunity for health insurance using documentation that people have, we are going to have a lot of undocumented people using the emergency system, which is more expensive for everyone,” Sciammarella said.
Like Ayala, Sciammarella addressed how the pandemic’s effects on Latinx people.
“The problem is that many Latinos have diabetes, hypertension,” she said. “It is not yet known why and, of course, obesity has been strongest in the Hispanic community.”
Sciammarella also addressed media misinformation about health and vaccinations. “Even though people are afraid to get vaccinated despite having seen many friends or family members die from the virus, the idea is to educate them more to get vaccinated,” she added.
Improved services
Sciammarella would like to see health promoters do a better job educating Latinx people. “Due to poor coordination in the health service, it is important to have health promoters help people navigate the system because the system is complicated,” she said. “Doing what is most useful to our community is promoting accessibility to the type of education and culture that Latinos have, instead of complicating the system and not explaining to people how it should be done.”
To contact Esperanza Health Centers, call (773) 584-6200. To contact the Chicago Hispanic Health Coalition, call (312) 842-2340.
Editor’s note: If you have a health-related issue you would like Gazette Chicago to cover as part of its Chicago HealthText participation, text (773) 969-9443.