Reflecting on Hispanic and Latine heritage every day

At Maven Clinic, we honor Hispanic and Latine heritage every day. However, during National Hispanic Heritage Month, it’s especially important to celebrate the different identities and cultures that make up the Hispanic and Latine communities—and understand the barriers to care facing these groups. 

What does it mean to be Hispanic or Latine?

“Hispanic” refers to people in the Americas and Spain who speak Spanish or are descended from Spanish-speaking communities. “Latine,” “Latinx,” “Latino/a”

describes any person with ancestry in Latin America. This definition includes Brazil and Haiti but excludes Spain. People who are Hispanic may also be Latine and vice versa, but this is not always the case and differs from person to person. The Hispanic and Latine community includes families from many countries with different cultural backgrounds and traditions. 

Health disparities in the Hispanic and Latine communities

Racist and biased systems in the U.S. exacerbate racial disparities in healthcare, as well as access to clean air, clean water, and healthy food. Almost 17% of the Hispanic and Latine communities experience food insecurity, and these populations are disproportionately affected by air and water pollution. 

Caring for these communities is especially important to Maven because the healthcare system also isn’t meeting the needs of Hispanic and Latine families. 22% of Hispanic women are uninsured, compared to only 7% of white women, and maternal mortality increased by 44% in 2020 among Hispanic women. Even before the pandemic, Hispanic and Latine mothers were less likely than white mothers to receive prenatal care, and when they did, it was late in pregnancy. 

When the pandemic hit, Hispanic and Latine people made up a large percentage of frontline workers, disproportionately exposing them to both extreme stress and COVID-19 before vaccinations were available. These factors, combined with the existing barriers to healthcare, clean air and water, and healthy food, likely caused the increase in maternal mortality. The inadequate access to resources and healthcare is harming the Hispanic and Latine communities. 

How Maven can help 

Maven is in a position to improve the standard of care for the Hispanic and Latine communities. 13% of current Maven members who shared ethnicity data identify as Hispanic or Latine. Our global presence reaches families all over Latin America, with existing members in countries including Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. 

Hispanic/Latine Maven members are more likely to report that Maven helped them better manage their anxiety and depression during pregnancy

At Maven, our Care Advocates help members navigate care during their unique family journey, helping them find the care they need when they need it. “We put a big emphasis on ‘best fit’ between a member and a provider, keeping time zones, preferred demographics, experience, and needs in mind,” says Brittany Alvarez, Registered Nurse and Maven Care Advocate. “If a provider does not have immediate appointment availability, we can send them a personal message and recommend a few similar providers who fit their needs with available appointments, and sometimes in just mere hours.”

Maven also supports non-English-speaking Hispanic and Latine members by connecting them with Care Advocates who speak Spanish or Portuguese. Maven’s provider base contains bilingual providers in 20 different verticals who speak Spanish, and when a same-language provider is not available, Maven provides simultaneous interpretation for members. 

Maven’s care model already has a profound impact on members of Hispanic and Latine communities. Hispanic/Latine Maven members are more likely to report that Maven helped them better manage their anxiety and depression during pregnancy and that Maven helped them avoid the emergency department or in-person care during pregnancy.  

With Maven, you can access: 

• Culturally humble care with 24/7 access to a worldwide network of providers
• Providers who understand your individual and cultural needs, including language and race 
• A dedicated Care Advocate who can ensure that you receive the care you need, when you need it

Check if you have Maven and join for free today.