Salsa y Salud: Increasing Healthy Lifestyle Awareness through a Radio-based Initiative

The Hispanic population, increasing in size, shows health differences when compared to other groups. In 2001, Hispanic persons, per 100,000 population, experienced more age-adjusted years of potential life lost before the age of 75 than non-Hispanic whites for stroke (18% more), chronic liver disease and cirrhosis (62%), diabetes (41%), HIV (168%), and homicide (128%).

This is a concern, as Hispanic people are the largest minority group in the United States. In 2001, of the approximate 291 million total population in the United States, approximately 38 million were Hispanic, and approximately 17 million lived in Florida.


As part of a grant received from Aetna, The University of North Florida, Department of Public Health developed a community media-based program specifically directed toward Hispanic individuals. This pilot program disseminated 2 series of twelve 30-second educational Public Service Announcements (PSAs) addressing the importance of healthy behaviors. The project, titled Salsa y Salud was based on social marketing theory.