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Hispanic women suffer gravely disproportionate reproductive health risks and ill effects in comparison to the majority of the population. Factors consistently identified as contributory to the increased incidence of reproductive medical problems in the Latino population include: a) a lack of knowledge about reproductive rights and health issues, 2) a lack of knowledge about the need for preventive health care, and 3) a lack of access to affordable health care and resources. In general, Spanish-dominant and poor Hispanic women's access to health care is limited, and preventive health care is neither widely endorsed nor practiced.

Three primary factors impeding Latinas' pursuit of better reproductive health practices include: 1) limited knowledge about reproductive health or function, 2) a lack of awareness of the need for preventive care, and 3) a lack of access to affordable health care and resources.

Since 1997, the Self Reliance Foundation has successfully launched its National Hispanic Family Planning and Reproductive Health Awareness Campaign to raise awareness of reproductive health issues and increase access to and usage of reproductive health facilities by underserved Hispanic populations across the United States. The campaign seeks to increase knowledge and preventive care while providing language and culturally appropriate service linkage. More specifically, SRF has identified common reproductive health beliefs and concerns within the Hispanic community and has developed a comprehensive and culturally appropriate media and grassroots network to inform and provide information, health services, and referrals. Building and expanding on this mission, in 2000, SRF initiated partnerships on the local and national level to target specific areas of interest and need for Hispanics.

Our working relationships with La Clinica del Pueblo, the Adelphi/Langley Park Clinic, and the Whitman Walker Clinic seek to facilitate the development and delivery of information and health services including reproductive health seminars, health packets, and clinical services to the uninsured in the D.C. community. At the national level, SRF continues to collaborate with nationally focused organizations that promote family planning and reproductive health practices for all Americans such as Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.

DC Area Health Fairs for the Uninsured
During the months of September and October 2000, in conjunction with La Clinica del Pueblo of Washington, D.C., the Self Reliance Foundation coordinated a series of health fairs with a focus on providing information and services to the uninsured residents of the greater D.C. Hispanic community. During these months, SRF, in conjunction with La Clinica, coordinated and participated in one pediatric health fair and one adult health fair. Services provided included contraceptive information, referrals and samples, cervical exams, and mammograms as well as immunizations and pediatric health examinations.

Self Reliance Foundation/Adelphi Clinic Reproductive Health Forums
In November 2000, SRF began a regular series of Spanish-language reproductive health workshops in collaboration with the Adelphi/Langley Park Family Support Center in Adelphi, Maryland. Seminar participants, Hispanic women in their childbearing years, range in age from their teens to late thirties.

National Reproductive Health Educational Radio Programs
In 2000, SRF produced a variety of radio programs on Reproductive Health for distribution through the nationally syndicated series, Fuente de Salud and Mundo 2000. In total, more than 75 programs addressing Hispanics' family planning and reproductive health needs were developed and broadcast. Topics covered included breast and cervical cancer, sexually transmitted diseases, abstinence, insurance and contraception, family planning, birth spacing, reproductive rights, teen sexuality, teen pregnancy, HIV/Aids, and prenatal care.