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A weekly public health and leadership training is attempting to fight chronic diseases in low income neighborhoods.<\/p>\n
The workshops are hosted by Project Concern International (PCI), an organization with programs globally and locally in San Diego.<\/p>\n
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that chronic diseases in the United States \u201care responsible for 7 of 10 deaths each year\u201d.<\/p>\n
PCI says that Latina women in low income neighborhoods are at even greater risk.<\/p>\n
Connie Lafuente is the manager of PCI\u2019s Project ALCANCE in San Diego.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn those four specific areas: City Heights, Sherman Heights, Logan Heights, and National City,\u201d said Lafuente, \u201cthe mortality rates for the Latina women are higher than anywhere in the county.\u201d<\/p>\n
Latinas in these neighborhoods are estimated to be \u201c1.5 times more likely to die from chronic disease than the general population\u201d, according to PCI.<\/p>\n
Lafuente says this could be due to various barriers.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt could be because of the poverty level, they don\u2019t have access to care or services, could be that they\u2019re undocumented and they\u2019re afraid to go to the clinic,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
A cultural practice of only visiting a doctor when one is ill, caring for one\u2019s family before caring for oneself, and the upfront costs of visiting a health center are additional barriers Lafuente suggests.<\/p>\n