The National Coalition for Sexual Health (NCSH), in collaboration with leading Hispanic organizations, including California Latinas for Reproductive Justice and the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR), has issued a call-to-action to increase the uptake of essential preventive sexual health services in the Hispanic community. As a member of NCSH, NACCHO supports this important initiative.

Unfortunately, many Hispanic people, even those with insurance, are not currently benefiting from these important preventive services, which are vital to overall health and well-being. For example, in 2015, less than half (46%) of Hispanic girls and only about a third (35%) of Hispanic boys received the recommended HPV vaccine series. At the same time, more than half (54%) of Hispanics have never been tested for HIV – even though it’s recommended at least once for everyone – and nearly one in four Latinas have not had a pap smear within past three years.

To help Hispanic people get the services they need, the NCSH has launched a free, easy-to-use Spanish-language guide and website, TOME EL CONTROL DE SU SALUD SEXUAL, which features charts of services that are recommended for women and men, questions to ask health care providers, and other resources. The NCSH also released this fact sheet on how to access recommended preventive sexual health services, with or without health insurance, and regardless of immigration status. The guide (English, Spanish) and fact sheet (English, Spanish) are available in dual languages.

Please view these materials and use this social media toolkit to help promote the importance of preventive health services in Latinx communities.