Research
Women & Children's Health
Bone Health. The Latino Research Center held Building Better Bones classes on the southeast side of Chicago for minority women and evaluated the impact of the classes on women who had or were at risk for developing osteoporosis. These classes were conducted through a contract with the Illinois Department of Public Health's Office of Women's Health. With the support of community partners, the Center invited at-risk women to the Building Better Bones educational program, where they received a bone density screening as well as education on the importance of calcium-rich foods and exercise in preventing problems like osteoporosis. Women who had abnormal screening results were referred to local health centers.
Pregnancy Outcomes. The Latino Research Center has undertaken three pregnancy-related projects:
- A hospital-based interview study to examine the relationship between the characteristics of prenatal care, content of care, satisfaction with care, and prenatal outcomes for Latinas;
- An analysis of birth certificate data for the state of Illinois; and,
- A focus group study to explore the relationship between the characteristics of prenatal care and satisfaction with care among different ethnic groups.
Other studies have included:
- An evaluation of the Illinois Department of Human Services' Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Food Centers program in Chicago;
- An assessment and annotated bibliography of the state child welfare program, examining its impact on Latino children and families;
- An assessment of emergent disabilities in Latino populations, in partnership with UIC's Center for Emergent Disabilities;
- An evaluation of the Indiana state case management and drug assistance program for substance abusers with HIV/AIDS.
