In The Community
Just a few days earlier, on April 1, the Florida Supreme Court also ruled in favor of upholding a 6-week abortion ban, which will take effect on May 1. This further reduced the legal threshold for abortions in Florida, which used to be 24 weeks of pregnancy before Republicans passed a law in 2022 banning abortions after 15 weeks. Both of these rulings have sparked intense debate and outrage about their impact on women’s rights.
Overview of the Near-Total Abortion Ban in Arizona
Medical professionals have spoken out about how dire the situation will become for women with this near-total abortion ban. Dr. Jill Gibson, chief medical director of Planned Parenthood in Arizona, told CNN that this ruling will have “absolutely unbelievable consequences for the patients in our community.” She continued by saying, “Providers need to be able to take care of their patients without fear of legal repercussions and criminalization.”
Representatives from Arizona and other states across the country have also spoken up against this near-total abortion ban.
Video by Shontel Brown Member of the United States House of Representatives on InstagramVideo by Shontel Brown Member of the United States House of Representatives on Instagram
Image by Rubén Gallego Member of the United States House of Representatives on InstagramImage by Rubén Gallego Member of the United States House of Representatives on Instagram
Until this Arizona Supreme Court decision, abortion had been legal in the state up to 15 weeks of pregnancy. The right to abortion via Roe v. Wade prevented the enforcement of the near-total abortion ban, but since a majority vote in the Supreme Court of the United States overturned Roe, those opposed to abortion rights had been fighting to enforce the 160-year-old 1864 law.
This new abortion ban in Arizona is not effective immediately as the court has paused its ruling for 14 days until additional arguments are heard in a lower court about how constitutional the law is. However, the law will likely come into effect in May, a few weeks from now. Planned Parenthood Arizona, the largest abortion provider in the state, will continue serving the community until the ban is enforced.
An Overview of Florida's Six-Week Abortion Ban
The landscape of abortion in Florida has also undergone a significant change with the enforcement of a 6-week abortion ban, replacing the previous 15-week limit. This ban, similar to Arizona's, severely restricts access to abortion care and poses a significant challenge to reproductive rights in the state. Providers are bracing for a public health crisis due to the increased demand for abortion and limited options for patients.
Practically speaking, a 6-week abortion ban is a near-total abortion ban because pregnant people often don’t even realize they could be pregnant by this early stage. Combined with Florida’s strict abortion requirements, which include mandatory in-person doctor visits with a 24-hour waiting period, it’s nearly impossible for those who may want an abortion to be able to access it before 6 weeks. Not to mention that fulfilling the requirements is particularly challenging for low-income individuals.
Video by theluncheonlawyer on InstagramVideo by theluncheonlawyer on Instagram
Moreover, this Florida law also restricts telemedicine for abortion and requires that medication be provided in person, effectively eliminating mail-order options for abortion pills. While exceptions for rape and incest exist in Florida, the requirements are also strict, asking victims to provide police records or medical records. For victims who don’t always report sexual violence for many different reasons, these exceptions don’t make a difference.
The consequences of Florida’s ban extend to neighboring states with more restrictive abortion laws. For instance, residents of Alabama, facing a total ban on abortion, and Georgia, with its own 6-week abortion ban, have relied on Florida for abortion services. That will no longer be an option, further limiting care alternatives.
The Road Ahead
These recent abortion bans in Arizona and Florida are a major setback for women's rights, particularly impacting Latina women who already face barriers to accessing quality healthcare. These bans not only restrict women’s reproductive freedom but also endanger their lives.
Efforts to challenge these bans through legal means and ballot measures are ongoing, but the road ahead is uncertain. While there’s hope for overturning these abortion bans, the challenges of conservative laws and legal battles are formidable. The November ballot in both states will be crucial in determining the future of abortion rights and access for all.
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Image by March of Dimes
For Latina mothers, one of the main factors contributing to maternal mortality is a lack of insurance and access to health care. According to a 2019 report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Latina mothers were less likely to receive prenatal care compared to white mothers.
Moreover, racial disparities and systemic racism are major factors contributing to maternal mortality among women of color. According to a recent study, the actions of healthcare providers and their interactions with patients reveal an implicit bias for white women and discrimination against women of color.
Not only are women of color often dismissed regarding symptoms and concerns during pregnancy, but they’re also mistreated. A survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that 30% of Black women, 29% of Latina women, and 27% of multiracial women experienced mistreatment during pregnancy or birth, compared to 19% of white women.
Within this context, doulas are providing much-needed support to Latina mothers and empowering them through dedicated services.
The Reality of Latina Mothers
In an interview for BBC, Surey Rodriguez-Cortes, a certified doula, shed light on how Latino doulas are changing the field, which “has been composed predominantly of middle-class white women for decades.” Rodriguez-Cortes shared that she has seen a rise in the number of people of color entering doula work every year. Diversity in this field is essential because culture informs the way women approach birth and the decisions they make regarding things like pain management.
For Latina mothers, for example, labor pain is regarded as a motherly obligation, leading them to decline pain medication often. The fact is that traditions and beliefs affect the experience of giving birth, but healthcare providers often don’t consider them because of their biases and stereotypical beliefs about women of color.
There’s proof of consistent stigma and bias in maternity care for Latina women and women of color overall. That manifests through mistreatment like ignoring requests for help, dismissing symptoms of concerns, shouting or scolding, being forced to accept unwanted treatment, and more. For Latina women who don’t speak English, this mistreatment is even more likely.
Giving birth in the U.S., especially for women of color, can be a traumatic experience where mothers feel like they don’t have a voice. Latino doulas seek to change this reality for Latina mothers by providing an empowered birth and postpartum experience. Having a doula makes a big difference, especially if they can incorporate cultural practices, help eliminate language barriers, and provide guidance in navigating the challenges and disparities in the healthcare system.
The Impact of Culturally Competent Doulas
Doulas are trained professionals who provide emotional and physical support before, during, and after birth. The term “doulas” and “midwives” is often used interchangeably, but their roles are different. The main difference is that midwives provide medical care while doulas don’t.
The main role of the doula is to make the birthing experience as comfortable as possible through various methods, such as massages, position suggestions, advocacy, and more. In other words, a doula is a protector and a champion for mothers in the delivery room (or at home if mothers decide to have a home birth) and beyond.
What makes Latine doulas different is that they have the cultural background other doulas lack. This allows them to understand Latine mothers, their challenges, and their beliefs a lot better, so they can provide support with the necessary cultural considerations to get them the kind of birth they deserve.
Moreover, Latine doulas eliminate language barriers for mothers who don’t speak English and advocate for them, helping them navigate the healthcare system more effectively. Latine doulas ensure mothers don’t lose their voice at any step of the way, and they listen to their wishes to effectively communicate them to healthcare providers, acting as advocates for mothers.
Latine mothers who have worked with Latine doulas report a more positive birthing experience where they feel heard, protected, and comfortable. Given that they are greatly affected by maternal mortality, having a doula by their side can reduce many of the risks by ensuring that they’re listened to instead of dismissed and tended to instead of mistreated during one of the most consequential moments of their lives.
The often overlooked issue of STDs and their disproportionate impact on the Latino population is a silent threat looming over men and women of all ages, but the numbers are rising among Latinas and it’s urgent to take action. This increase in Latina STDs isn’t only because of a lack of sex education and limited healthcare access; it’s also due to how stigmatized STDs are within Latino culture, where women are often less likely to discuss STDs with family and intimate partners.
Latinas, particularly Latina immigrants, are highly vulnerable to STDs, with studies showing that they comprise a significant portion of HIV diagnoses. Cultural factors, including traditional gender roles, machismo, marianismo, and a lack of sexual education, contribute to this vulnerability.
The lack of insurance and limited communication with medical providers further exacerbate these challenges. While the issue of STDs is often ignored concerning Latinas, the way it’s shaping and affecting Latina health is beginning to appear more frequently in public discourse.
@midwestexpressclinic If you think you may have an STD or have had unprotected sex, visit your nearest Midwest Express Clinic for quick and discreet STD testing! It’s always better to be on the safe side! #std #stdtest #health #midwestexpressclinic
A Closer Look at the Impact of STDs on Latinas
As is often the case with women within communities of color, Latina women are disproportionately vulnerable to health issues like STDs. Studies show they are 1.7 times more likely to develop high-risk HPV infections compared to other racial/ethnic groups, leading to higher rates of cervical cancer.
HIV and other STDs are also particularly common among Latinas, with HIV affecting Latinas more than other races. Moreover, 91% of new HIV cases are a result of heterosexual contact with an HIV infection rate of 4.9%, which is higher than the 4.5% rate for women overall. They’re also more likely to contract gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia. Misinformation, lack of belief in prevention, negative attitudes toward condoms, and higher rates of unprotected sex contribute to this issue, which has become an epidemic.
Luz Media spoke with Northeast Valley Health Corporation (NEVHC), a community health center based in northeast Los Angeles that offers free and low-cost STD healthcare services, to understand what patients are reporting as barriers to STD testing. When asked what Latina patients say are some reasons they didn’t seek STD testing, Marline Santana, a licensed vocational nurse in the STD Testing and Treatment program, said Latina patients tend to have a “low perceived risk, if married or in a relationship, and they consider there is no need to test for STDs/Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). It does not cross their minds that partners may be having sex with other people.”
However, this belief can prevent Latinas from getting early diagnosis and treatment. As an anecdotal example, Angie Gutierrez, STD Program Manager, shared, “One time, we had a patient come in for STD/HIV testing because she found out her husband had been using meth for a few months and had sex with her gay brother, who is also a meth user. Being married for 23 years, she never thought her husband would cheat and put her at risk, which was devastating for her. But she did the right thing by seeking immediate STD testing, and her results came back negative.”
When it comes to STD/STI prevention, Eddy Banuelos, Health Educator, offered this advice for ways in which Latinas can take control of their own sexual health, “[by] talking to your support network about why they should test regularly for HIV/STDs, having open conversations with your medical provider about sexual health, talking to your partners about condom use, not just as a contraceptive method, but also to prevent STD transmission, and taking steps to erase the stigma around STD testing.”
STD Impact on Newborn Babies
Babies are very much affected by Latino parents’ high STD infection rates. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released updated data on the overall impact of congenital syphilis–which is when the infection passes from the mom to the baby during pregnancy or during vaginal birth, where the baby can have direct contact with a syphilis sore.
What Latina moms should know is that syphilis infection in their babies can be prevented with early diagnosis and treatment. The CDC found that almost 90% of newborn syphilis cases in 2022 could have been prevented with STD testing and treatment.
Most of these cases are a result of a lack of testing and early detection, which stems from a low sexual health education and leads to improper treatment or no treatment at all. These are some of the reasons why Latino birth parents faced the highest rate of missed prevention opportunities.
Social Media Post by the Houston Chronicle
Similarly, the Los Angeles County Annual HIV Surveillance Report revealed that between 2007 and 2022, 46 newborns were diagnosed with HIV, mostly transmitted from their mothers during pregnancy. These findings show how urgently prenatal care, STD/HIV testing, and STD/HIV treatment are needed in all communities.
STD Impact on Teenagers and Young Adults
STDs pose a significant threat to Latina teenagers, young adults, and adults in the U.S., with disproportionately high rates compared to other demographics. Factors such as increased sexual activity, lack of sexual health education, and cultural beliefs contribute to that threat. However, more knowledge about inexpensive or free resources and encouraging conversations about STDs and the importance of STD testing can help turn things around.
In California, half of reported STD cases occur among individuals aged 15 to 24, with Latinos experiencing particularly elevated rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea. Among young Latina women (18-24), syphilis cases are higher compared to whites, especially in the western U.S.
Cultural and social factors in the Latino community, misinformation about STDs, and shame around STD testing make the issue worse by causing late diagnosis and inadequate treatment. That’s why it’s so important to be aware that STD testing and treatment are at the tip of your fingers. For instance, the Northeast Valley Health Corporation’s health centers simplify the process for Los Angeles County residents, who can make appointments online or by calling their Sexual Health Hotline (818) 923-9160 and get the support they need.
Are Latinas Less Likely to Discuss Sexual and Reproductive Health with Their Partners?
At the root of the stigmatization of STDs in the Latino community is a cultural shame around sex. This issue isn’t unique to the Latino culture, but it does affect people’s attitudes and beliefs about sex and, therefore, sexual health. There’s a lot of shame/blame surrounding sex and STDs, and it’s linked not only to religion and its conservative norms but also to a lack of education.
We asked the medical staff of NEVHC about shame and fear surrounding STD testing in Latina patients, and Herberth Osorio, HIV Program Administrator, said, “We do see a sense of shame or fear of being labeled as ‘promiscuous’ if they ask for STD testing. If they test positive for an STD, they are afraid to talk to their partner about it because they could be accused of ‘sleeping around with other guys’ and transmitting the STD to them.”
Not only are Latinos, especially Latina women, less likely to talk about sexual and reproductive health, but most of them lack the understanding and language to do so. Machista attitudes also prevent men from openly discussing these things, making it so much more difficult for women to broach the subject.
@sexualhealthalliance Talking to your partner about an STD test. 💬💖 #fyp #relationship #std #partner #communicationskills #healthtips
The issue is not only confined to romantic/sexual relationships. Young Latinas don’t often discuss sex or reproductive health with their parents, and they face a lot more cultural barriers than young Latinos. Traditional values regarding virginity and premarital sex create great conflict for them, making them feel like they have to hide, so they don’t openly discuss sexual health or seek related services.
When asked how NEVHC staff helps Latina patients be more comfortable discussing STDs, Osorio said, “Our health educators can have one-on-one conversations to address the stigma surrounding STD testing and discuss how they are transmitted. Moreover, healthcare providers are open to listening to their patients and addressing their concerns about when and how often to test for STDs. We also have bilingual staff, which helps increase the comfort level of Latina patients while having difficult conversations.”
These are not the only efforts the NEVHC makes to support Latinas in the community.
“We try to reflect the populations we serve and have Latina staff, including Registered Nurses, Licensed Vocational Nurses, and Medical Assistants. They can educate and empower our Latina patients to increase their knowledge about sexual health and take charge of their own bodies. Shortly, we will offer support groups in Spanish to discuss different topics around sexual health and how to initiate a conversation with partners to enjoy a healthy sex life,” added Howard Maldonado, Clinic Administrator III.
Exploring the Role of Machismo and Its Impact on Latina Sexual Health
@therapylux #machismo #toxicmasculinity #genderstereotypes
Within the context of sexual health, machismo contributes to the limited use of contraceptives among men and an overall disinterest in sexual education. As such, Latinas are less likely to discuss STD testing with partners, let alone contraception or reproductive health.
