Report digs deeper into differences among groups within Latino, Asian populations The UCLA Center for Health Policy Research recently released easy-to-read infographics with health statistics on five major ethnic and racial groups in California — whites, Latinos, blacks, Asians and American Indians/Alaska Natives. One-page "Health Profiles" on Latino and Asian subgroups are also available.
The new Race/Ethnicity Health Profiles use data from the 2011–12 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) to explore a range of health topics, from insurance status to fruit-and-vegetable consumption to binge drinking. Of specific interest are customized statistics for nearly a dozen groups within the Latino (9.5 million) and Asian (3.9 million) ethnic groups, including separate data for U.S.-born Mexicans versus Mexicans born outside of the country.
Latino ethnic groups covered include Mexican, Salvadoran, Guatemalan, other Central American and South American. Asian groups include Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese and South Asian.
Among the findings for California’s estimated 27.8 million adults:
Number of uninsured
Approximately 6.2 million California adults (26.6 percent of the state’s adult population) had no health insurance for all or part of the past year
Insured through work
Nearly six of 10 Asians in the state had employment-based health insurance, compared with five of 10 Californians overall. Among Asian ethnic groups, the figure ranged from a high of more than seven of 10 for South Asians to fewer than four of 10 for Koreans. For Latinos overall, fewer than four of 10 had employment-based insurance was, while Guatemalans had the lowest rate — two of 10.
Mexican groups and poverty
More than 70 percent of adult Mexicans born outside the U.S. had household incomes under 200 percent of the federal poverty level (less than $46,100 for a family of four in 2012). For U.S.-born Mexicans, the proportion was much lower, at 44.3 percent.
Walking and health
About one-third of all Californians walked regularly on a weekly basis. Latinos had one of the highest rates, at nearly 35 percent, and Salvadorans were the most frequent walkers, with a 41 percent rate.
Californians and obesity
More than 6.8 million Californians — a full quarter of the adult population — were obese. Less than one in 10 Asians was obese, while nearly four in 10 blacks and American Indians/Alaska Natives were.
Read the full 2011–2012 Racial and Ethnicity Health Profiles.
The UCLA Center for Health Policy Research (CHPR) is one of the nation’s leading health policy research centers and the premier source of health policy information for California. UCLA CHPR improves the public’s health through high quality, objective, and evidence-based research and data that informs effective policymaking. UCLA CHPR is the home of the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) and is part of the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and affiliated with the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs.