Disproportionate Sterilization of Latinos Under California’s Eugenic Sterilization Program, 1920–1945

Details

• Personal Author:
  Harlow SD ; Kardia SLR ; Lira N ; Novak NL ; O'Connor KE ; Stern AM
• Description:
  OBJECTIVES: To compare population-based sterilization rates between Latinas/os and non-Latinas/os sterilized under California's eugenics law. METHODS: We used data from 17 362 forms recommending institutionalized patients for sterilization between 1920 and 1945. We abstracted patient gender, age, and institution of residence into a data set. We extracted data on institution populations from US Census microdata from 1920, 1930, and 1940 and interpolated between census years. We used Spanish surnames to identify Latinas/os in the absence of data on race/ethnicity. We used Poisson regression with a random effect for each patient's institution of residence to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and compare sterilization rates between Latinas/os and non-Latinas/os, stratifying on gender and adjusting for differences in age and year of sterilization. RESULTS: Latino men were more likely to be sterilized than were non-Latino men (IRR = 1.23; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.15, 1.31), and Latina women experienced an even more disproportionate risk of sterilization relative to non-Latinas (IRR = 1.59; 95% CI = 1.48, 1.70). CONCLUSIONS: Eugenic sterilization laws were disproportionately applied to Latina/o patients, particularly Latina women and girls. Understanding historical injustices in public health can inform contemporary public health practice. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aging Men Occupational Health Race Factors Safety Urogenital Diseases Urogenital System Women
• Keywords:
  Age Groups Humans Racial Factors Statistical Analysis Sterility Sterilizing Agents
• ISSN:
  0090-0036
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Illinois ; Iowa ; Michigan ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 7
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  108
• Issue:
  5
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20056375
• Citation:
  Am J Public Health 2018 May; 108(5):611-613
• Contact Point Address:
  Nicole L. Novak, PhD,MSc, Prevention Research Center, University of Iowa College of Public Health, 145 N. Riverside Drive, N409 CPHB, Iowa City, IA 52242
• Email:
  nicole-novak@uiowa.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• Performing Organization:
  University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Public Health
• End Date:
  20280630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:48d6a80ca58187ea3c0d46670571dba82e46f96b8a641c09e5f473afeb38c15a3e2648612458c8b0ca926ff5ae35d7f0576cd4d14562a56e4b41f56aa89587eb
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/213994/cdc_213994_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 656.55 KB ]