Health Education Research and Practice Literature on Hispanic Health Issues: Have We Lost Sight of the Largest Minority Population?

Health Promot Pract. 2016 Mar;17(2):172-6. doi: 10.1177/1524839915626675. Epub 2016 Jan 22.

Abstract

Hispanics constitute the largest racial/ethnic minority population in the United States and are the fastest growing segment of the population. Knowledge about health needs and practices, effective health promotion programs, and health policy making for Hispanics has the potential to improve population health outcomes for this group. Continued research and practice literature will aid in accomplishing these objectives. However, little is known about the extent of health education-related literature available on Hispanic health issues. In this review, we analyzed research and practice publications in all health education-related journals to assess the volume of articles published on Hispanic health issues. We found that the portion of journal articles devoted to Hispanic health issues varied widely among the journals and that there was a very limited emphasis on Hispanic health-related issues. Journal editors and editorial board members may need to be more proactive in soliciting manuscripts on Hispanic health, and our practitioners may have to improve their professional skills and cultural competence in order to work with Hispanic populations to produce research and practice literature that is of adequate quantity and quality to help improve Hispanics' health.

Keywords: career development/professional preparation; health research; minority health.

MeSH terms

  • Bibliometrics*
  • Health Education* / statistics & numerical data
  • Health Promotion / methods
  • Health Promotion / statistics & numerical data
  • Health Services Needs and Demand
  • Hispanic or Latino*
  • Humans
  • Minority Groups*
  • Public Health / education
  • Public Health / methods
  • Public Health / statistics & numerical data
  • United States