Historically, the focal point of the discourse on the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents has been teen pregnancy, and the population of interest has been adolescent females ages 10-14 and ages 15-19. Issues related to the sexual and reproductive health of young males were seldom considered, as reflected in the type of data collected—or not collected—for male and female teens. In the late 1980s, this began to change with an increased emphasis on issues related to male teens, in part due to the spread of infections such as HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and chlamydia. Our knowledge about the sexual and reproductive health outcomes and behaviors of young men of color (Hispanic or Latino, black or African American, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander) is shaped by the methods used to gather and analyze the relevant data. These methods and the resulting data, however, do not always accurately reflect trends for this group. This report traces our knowledge about the sexual and reproductive health of young men of color from outcomes to behaviors, and then discusses some of the complexities associated with studying this population.

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The executive summary for this publication can be found here.

During the 1990s, reported rates of infection among African American teens increased for some sexually related diseases (e.g., chlamydia) but decreased for others (e.g., gonorrhea and syphilis). However, all sexually related diseases—in particular, HIV infection and AIDS—are more prevalent among black adolescents than among all other teens.

Although African American adolescents remain more likely than their white or Latino counterparts to report engaging in sexual activity, the gaps among the groups in reported sexual experience have narrowed over the past 25 years. Factors found to lessen the greater likelihood of sexual intercourse among African American teens include family structure, educational attainment, socioeconomic status, and spiritual interconnectedness.

This fact sheet offers data on the use of contraceptives by African American adolescents, particularly when compared to their white counterparts. More on these findings can be found in The Reproductive Health of African American Adolescents: What We Know and What We Don't Know.

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To better understand the issues and to inform its deliberation in formulating recommendations for policy, research, and practice, the Infant Mortality Commission asked experts in various fields related to maternal and child health and infant mortality to prepare background papers on specific issues. This background paper examines the impact of stress and stress mediators on pregnancy outcomes for African American women. The report also examines social support and other relational experiences and makes recommendations for related changes in public policy and maternal and child health practices. This analysis complements and reinforces the recommendations of other Courage to Love: Infant Mortality Commission background and framing papers on infant mortality and resilience; the role of breastfeeding in maternal and infant health; the historical framework of policies and practices to reduce infant mortality; the authentic voices of those affected by infant mortality; and infant mortality in a global context.

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This issue brief identifies, analyzes and compares provisions which explicitly address the health and health care needs of racial and ethnic minorities within the two leading Congressional health care reform proposals: The Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 (H.R. 3962) passed in the House of Representatives on November 7, 2009; and The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2009 (H.R. 3590) introduced in the Senate on November 18, 2009, as a merged version of the Senate Finance Committee’s America’s Health Future Act (S.1796) and Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions’ (HELP) Affordable Health Choices Act (S. 1697). Additionally, this issue brief explores the potential implications of broad health care reforms for racial and ethnic minorities. Also discussed is how each bill could decrease disparities and improve minority health, where each falls short in advancing these goals, as well as the transitional challenges and questions for the future should health care reform legislation be enacted.

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This report summarizes presentations made during the People of Color Strand at the 2005 TASH Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The report was made possible through a grant that TASH received from the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. The People of Color Strand became a part of the TASH Conference in 2002 through the advocacy of TASH Board members of color and other concerned TASH supporters. For several years, they watched issues pertinent to people of color, especially African Americans, go unaddressed despite TASH's strong commitment to disability rights and social justice. The purpose of the People of Color Strand is to highlight health, educational, and community/social service issues and challenges faced by people of color with significant disabilities and their families. The People of Color Strand also provides a forum for presenters to highlight what strategies are working for people of color with significant disabilities and their families.

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Over the past decade, despite a narrowing of the gaps between adolescents of different racial or ethnic groups in the frequency of various sexual behaviors and associated outcomes, African American adolescents remained more likely to contract sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

With $10 billion in Medicaid spending reductions under consideration by Congress, the issue of Medicaid has returned to the forefront of the nation’s public policy debate. One recurring proposal to limit federal Medicaid spending would place firm caps on either Medicaid enrollment or federal Medicaid spending.

To better understand the issues and to inform its deliberation in formulating recommendations for policy, research, and practice, the Infant Mortality Commission asked experts in various fields related to maternal and child health and infant mortality to prepare background papers on specific issues. This background paper explores the relationship between maternal nutrition and infant mortality, with an emphasis on the context of relationality. It provides an analysis of the relationship between maternal nutrition and leading causes of infant mortality, as well as maternal, infant, and child health; an overview of the nutritional status and behaviors of pregnant women in the U.S.; and a comprehensive review of the effectiveness of nutritional supplementation programs in pregnancy. The final chapters reframe the relationship between maternal nutrition and infant mortality within the context of relationality over the life course and offer related recommendations for research, policy, and practice. This analysis complements and reinforces the recommendations of other Courage to Love: Infant Mortality Commission background and framing papers on infant mortality and resilience; the role of breastfeeding in maternal and infant health; the historical framework of policies and practices to reduce infant mortality; the authentic voices of those affected by infant mortality; and infant mortality in a global context.

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