The Essential Role of 'Promotoras' in Latino Communities Amid the Pandemic

By Mary Anne R. First Posted: Aug 07, 2020 12:00 AM EDT

The coronavirus pandemic has affected the lives of several Americans. It also changed the economic activities of various states across the country.

Around 1.8 million people have been reported on Aug. 6 to file for unemployment benefits as economists worry that increasing unemployment rates will lead to a massive drop-off in household spending and set back the U.S. economy's recovery.

This report showed more disparities in the racial wealth gap. It also showed that many still do not have access to health care needed, especially now that the world is experiencing a pandemic.

Latino communities are part of the number of people who still do not have access to medical care due to different financial, structural, and institutional barriers. More than seven million Latinos go without health insurance coverage.

With this, Latinos without health insurance receive about half as much medical care as insured. Cultural and language barriers also prevent many in Latino communities to receive the medical care they need.

Health care providers and patients in Latino communities fail to communicate because of this. That is when "promotoras" enter the picture of health care accessibility.

What Are Promotoras?

"Promotoras," also known as Promotores de salud, is the Spanish term for community health workers. Latino communities recognize promotoras as lay health-workers who work in Spanish-speaking communities.

In San Diego County, a group of promotoras has been deployed in Latino communities to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Latino communities are known to be disproportionately affected by the COVID-19.

In Tennessee, the population of Latino communities only makes up five percent. However, Latino communities account for around 27 percent of statewide COVID-19 cases, according to the state's health department.

Latino communities account for 61.7 percent of COVID-19 positive cases in San Diego County. Promotoras in this county aim to connect with close contacts of someone who tested positive for COVID-19. They will ask these people to quarantine themselves and guide them through the process.

Promotoras usually contact the person who had close contact with a positive case through phone, email, or text. However, in-person visits can also be done as preventive steps.

"Their goal is to make sure people are in quarantine, stay in contact with them to find out if they develop symptoms, and give them information and resources to prevent the spread of COVID-19," Jose Alvarez, from County of San Diego said in an NBC San Diego report.

The group of promotoras speak English and Spanish. Next week, the county said more promotoras, who speak Arabic and Tagalog, would be deployed in Latino communities and underserved areas.

Mauricio Torre, vice president of programs and operations for South Bay Community Services, said these are all the neighbors that they trust.

"The continuous contact is done with the goal of keeping the individual well-informed on the resources and actions to take...to protect the community's health," Torre said in a report.

Latino Communities

Reports said Latinos are using social media, mobile apps, and other online platforms more to know social distancing guidelines, compared to the general U.S. population.

Latinos are 57 percent more seen to use social media platforms to look for information about the coronavirus pandemic.

Latino communities represent at least 31.6 percent of all coronavirus deaths nationwide. However, Latino communities only make up 19 percent of the U.S. population.