About the Book

Until recently, little was known about Latina health. The government did not even collect statistics on causes of death among Hispanics before 1989. Since then, research has yielded a wealth of new information. The most surprising is that even though Latinas have high rates of diabetes and are more likely to be overweight than non-Hispanic white women, Latinas have lower rates of heart disease, lower rates of stroke, and live longer than non-Hispanic white women, rich or poor. Nevertheless, the health messages Latinas receive are still the same as those of the general population--or worse--focus only on the disparities. These messages do not match the experiences of Latinas nor do they not take into account Latinas' strengths and assets.

No other book addresses this hot topic. Written by Jane L. Delgado, the nation's leading expert on Hispanic health, The Latina Guide to Health features cutting-edge medical information as well as "consejos" (conversational advice) throughout. Authoritative and accessible, this guide includes an A-Z "Health facts" section on everything from alcoholism and asthma to depression, diabetes, lupus, and sexually transmitted diseases, as well as sidebars, charts, and website resources. 

About the Author

Jane L. Delgado, Ph.D., M.S. is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, the nation's largest organization of health and human service providers to Hispanics. She came to her position at the Alliance after serving in the Immediate Office of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Prior to working for DHHS she held a variety of positions including Children's Talent Coordinator for Sesame Street from 1973 to 1975. A practicing clinical psychologist, Delgado is also the author of !Salud! A Latina's Guide to Total Health. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband Mark and daughter Elizabeth.