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There is scarce information on child care strategies among Hispanics in the United States. The purpose of this pilot study was to identify and understand child care practices in a sample of forty-five Mexican-American working mothers living in northern California by means of conducting six focus groups. Results included data on child care selection, problems, and preferences. Results also expose myths based on ethnic stereotyping that have obscured the understanding of this issue. Suggestions for further research are discussed as well as child care policy considerations.

Latino women in California have less access to health care, particularly prenatal care, than any other ethnic group. This exploratory study identified perceptions about prenatal care needs, barriers to utilization of health services and common health behaviors during pregnancy among a sample of Mexican American women and a sample of prenatal care providers. The research used a combination of written questionnaires and focus-group discussions to gather data from a sample of sixty Mexican American community women, and a written questionnaire only to get information from a sample of forty providers. Results showed that providers perceived Mexican American women as doing better than non-Latino women regarding a series of health behaviors during pregnancy and as doing worse regarding another set of prenatal care behaviors. Results also showed that Mexican American pregnant teenagers are at particularly high risk regarding prenatal care due to a combination of structural and cultural factors. Acculturation was found to be an important factor affecting prenatal care beliefs and behaviors among this population. This relationship deserves further study. The influence of acculturation also needs to be considered in the design of prenatal care communication strategies with Mexican American women.

Latinos are the fastest growing population in the United States. Yet in spite of their growing numbers, the health needs of Latinos are not met, they lack adequate access to health care and lack appropriate health education interventions. This article discusses key factors to be considered in dealing effectively with the health education needs of Latinos. These factors include demographic characteristics of this population; acculturation and its relationship to health practices; major health issues among Latinos and beliefs and practices which influence Latino health. Communication strategies most widely used by Latinos and most credible sources of health information are discussed. Recommendations for effective communication strategies to reach Latinos with culturally appropriate health messages are presented.

A relatively large percentage of Hispanics in the United States smoke. Yet a large proportion of Hispanics are light smokers, smoking ten or fewer cigarettes per day. Previous research has shown that most light smokers quit smoking on their own and that health education and an environment conducive to non-smoking can have a significant impact in reducing smoking rates. Given the current smoking patterns of Hispanics, culturally appropriate media-based community intervention to promote smoking cessation can have a significant impact. This study identified patterns of media use and language preference among a sample of 263 Hispanic smokers from the San Francisco Bay Area. Based on this study, recommendations to reach Hispanic smokers with a series of communication strategies are suggested.

The present case study 1) identified and evaluated perinatal care needs among Hispanics in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as perceived by a sample of perinatal care providers and receivers in the community, and 2) compared those needs with needs previously identified by a national team of Hispanic health experts and political and academic leaders.Results showed that while Hispanic experts emphasized technical needs, the community emphasized humanistic and communication needs in perinatal care services. Within the community, there were also differences between providers' and receivers' identification of barriers. Providers thought that cultural biases of receivers toward the medical profession prevented effective use of services. Receivers identified structural, mainly service related, limitations as barriers to effective perinatal care. This study shows the need to not base programs on "expert" opinion of public needs only.

Epidemiological studies have shown disproportionately elevated risk rates of AIDS among Hispanics and blacks, particularly among the heterosexual population. Intense preventive education has resulted in dramatic infection reduction among the gay population. Yet these educational efforts aimed at the gay population failed to reach many of the minority population at risk. This study looked at some structural and cultural factors that might be preventing beneficial effects generated from existing educational programs designed to prevent AIDS. The same variables were compared among whites and Hispanics. The research showed that while all groups had a high level of knowledge regarding AIDS transmission, Hispanics had many misconceptions about the way AIDS is transmitted. In this study, Hispanics were not more intolerant toward homosexuals than whites; nor were they more intolerant towards people with AIDS. Thus AIDS education campaigns directed towards Hispanics need to be designed to address specific misconceptions regarding AIDs transmission. Homophobia does not appear to be an insurmountable barrier preventing Hispanics from dealing with this topic.