ELICIA CARRILLO

Elicia Carrillo, 538 words

In the article, The Developmental Health of Hispanic Children: Evidence from the 2003 National Survey of Children's Health, Terling and Martinez-Ramos seek to determine why Hispanic children are less likely to be diagnosed with an emotional, developmental or behavioral problem. These include ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, developmental delays, and depression and anxiety. Researchers referenced the 2003 National Survey of Children's Health. This was conducted by the CDC and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics from 2003-2004. The surveys were done via telephone and asked questions of children between the ages of 0-17. The surveys were conducted in both English and Spanish. Questions included mental/physical health, access to health care, number of doctor visits, family functioning, parental health and demographics. Questions compared diagnosed developmental problems of autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, depression/anxiety. Also, whether the parent expressed concern. The children were divided into two groups; ages 5 and under were asked of cognitive abilities such as speech sounds, uses of hands, fingers and legs, whether the child behaves, and has social skills. The second group consisted of children between the ages 6-17. Parents of this group were asked if the parent had concerns of learning disabilities or depression/anxiety. The primary independent variable is race/ethnicity.

                Results determined that Hispanic children are significantly less likely to be diagnosed with any emotional, behavioral or developmental problem than White children. Hispanic children are % less likely than White children to be diagnosed with Autism. 63% less likely to be diagnosed with ADHD, 51% less likely to be diagnosed with developmental delay and 27% less likely to be diagnosed with depression/anxiety than white children. However, Hispanics were slightly more likely (9.8%) to be diagnosed with a learning disability than white children (9.6%). Furthermore, parental concern is more present in Hispanic parents than white parents. Hispanic parents are 78% more likely to be concerned that their young children understand them and 52% are concerned with how their children use their hands and fingers. This data could suggest that Hispanic children are not more healthy than white children, but rather, are underdiagnosed. The research could suggest a strong relationship between culture, language barriers and underdiagnoses.

 

                In the article, Racial Prejudice and Spending on Drug Rehabilitation: The Role of Attitudes Towards Blacks and Latinos, Bonn, Nielson and Wilson attempt to explain answers to prejudice questions addressed by the General Social Survey. Example questions include why there's inequality and whether it's due to individual or structural causes such as education and job opportunity versus laziness and a person's inability. The article essentially asks why do some believe we should spend more on drug rehabilitation while others do not? In asking this question, researchers are understanding how peoples prejudice attitudes influences their perceptions on drug rehabilitation spending.

                The results determined that prejudice is a considerable factor when evaluating why some favor or deny more spending on drug rehabilitation. These factors hold true after controlling for age, gender, race, income and other demographics. If one holds prejudice towards African Americans, they are more likely to feel that society spends too much on drug rehab. Those who do not express prejudice, however, are likely to believe that society needs to spend more. Prejudice is defined in the article. If someone blames society for inequality, they are not prejudice. Those that blame the individual for inequality are considered prejudice. The data determined that prejudice does influence one's response. That is, prejudice influences public policies, such as drug rehabilitation funding.