Could Hispanic Women Represent New Healthcare Marketing Target? Survey Says Yes
A new national survey commissioned by Cultur Health shows healthcare marketers should target insured Hispanic women ages 25-35. These young Latinas, representing a rapidly growing Hispanic demographic, are key healthcare gatekeepers – managing their own health needs and frequently those of their families, parents, grandparents and other relatives as well.
Key survey findings:
Latinas rely heavily on family contacts and community word-of-mouth for healthcare information and product recommendations; healthcare providers a close second
This age group prefers English-language healthcare information
Vast majority have health insurance through employer or spouse, increasing their purchasing power for healthcare products, services
Cultur Health survey findings
The survey, which was administered by ORC International on behalf of Cultur Health, was conducted online among a sample of 501 Hispanic women who are between the ages of 25 and 35 and are employed full time. Key findings related to this population’s healthcare utilization and attitudes include the following:
La comunidad (the community)
Survey findings identified which resources Latinas most commonly turn to for healthcare information and recommendations. When asked where they first go for help with a healthcare concern, the majority named a “doctor” (59 percent); however, over 30 percent named other sources, including a relative, spouse, friend or pharmacist.
Similarly, personal connections play a large role in purchasing decisions. When asked who influences their decisions to buy consumer or over-the-counter healthcare products, respondents’ most frequent response was “friends, family and neighbors” (64 percent), followed by “pharmacist” (52 percent). Conversely, only 21 percent cited “advertising.”
“Reliance on social networks is a hallmark of Latin culture, with family members, neighbors and local figures of authority influencing even the most important healthcare decisions,” said Roberto Ramos, the vox collective’s president and CEO. “Cultur Health programs use these networks to deliver messages through trusted influencers and in familiar environments.”
Health insurance and Latinas
The vast majority of women surveyed (89 percent) reported that they pay for healthcare expenses through either their own employee insurance, or their spouse/partner’s. “Our survey results should send a strong message to marketers,” said Lake. “Increasingly, younger Hispanics are insured, and companies that target them will be well positioned now and in the future.” Indeed, a key finding of the 2010 Census was that the Hispanic population skews much younger than the white population.
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