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Sara Gomez

Headquartered in North Carolina, Ipas is using its international reproductive health expertise to improve the quality of sexual and reproductive health for Latino/a immigrants living in the state. A recent study by the Guttmacher Institute indicates that Latinas have the highest rate of teen pregnancies in the state, yet these teens may not have access to the same sexual and reproductive health care and information as their non-Latino/a counterparts. North Carolina’s Latino/a immigrants face a number of unique challenges in the area of sexual and reproductive health, including language barriers, lack of knowledge about available services, and ingrained community attitudes regarding reproductive health care. In addition, the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health points out that many Latinas are low-income and are less likely to have private insurance, and therefore are less likely to access a full range of sexual and reproductive health-care options.

Working with local organizations, Ipas helped establish the North Carolina Reproductive Justice Coalition, an alliance of progressive organizations, advocates, health-care providers and women living in Chatham, Durham, Orange and Wake counties. The Coalition works to provide the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health to the local Latino/a community and leads reproductive justice trainings, provides information on reproductive health issues and advocates for policies to improve access to reproductive information and services for the Latino/a community. The Coalition includes El Pueblo Inc., a statewide Latino advocacy organization; reproductive health and rights organizations such as Planned Parenthood of Central North Carolina and NARAL Pro-Choice N.C.; and other groups including the Orange County Rape Crisis Center and the N.C. Healthy Start Foundation. Florence Simán, director of health programs at El Pueblo Inc., explains that North Carolina Reproductive Justice Coalition’s mission is to create safe spaces for Latino/as to talk about reproductive health issues and to “change structures that limit access to reproductive information and services for Latino/as.”

In particular, the North Carolina Reproductive Justice Coalition works to improve the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young people, who make up a large percentage of the local immigrant population. “Traditionally, in the Latino community, speaking about sexual and reproductive health is almost non-existent for various reasons, which can include religion and cultural beliefs. Because of this, most youth have a hard time acquiring accurate information about sexual and reproductive health,” says Gina Uresti, reproductive health youth program coordinator at El Pueblo Inc. In addition, young people are rarely able to rely on their parents for advice or information: “When parents are working endless hours or doubling up shifts, it is difficult to find time to communicate about sexual and reproductive health issues,” adds Uresti.

With Ipas’s support, El Pueblo Inc. trains health promotores and promotoras, informal community leaders who connect with local Latino/a immigrants, including young people, to educate them about their reproductive health and rights and where they can access services. In addition, the organization is also training youth leaders to educate their peers about sexual and reproductive health issues.

Luis Arellano, 19, received peer educator training through El Pueblo Inc. and believes it is important for young Latino/as to have better access to information. “Latinos need a place they can go with people that speak the same language…What I have noticed is that many [who] don't speak English feel intimidated to ask for help, condoms or even to ask a question because their English is not very good,” he says.

“By involving youth in reproductive justice work, we can spread the information, debunk the myths and encourage others to participate. Then other generations can be more informed about reproductive justice,” says Uresti.

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For more information, contact media@ipas.org