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The majority of individuals in South Texas are of Hispanic ethnicity (68.9 % in 2010) [1]. Hispanics typically face a number of barriers to health care including economic, cultural, and institutional barriers. Inadequate access to health care may lead to disparities in health outcomes [2, 3].

Almost 4.5 million people were estimated to have resided in South Texas in 2010, almost 18 % of the entire Texas population. From 2000 to 2010, South Texas grew at the same rate as the rest of Texas.

Adequate access to health care services, including preventive services and treatment for illnesses, is critical to achieving positive health outcomes. Two major limitations of adequate access to care are a lack of health insurance coverage and a shortage of health care providers in certain areas [1, 2].

A communicable disease is one that can be transmitted or spread from one person or species to another, through either direct or indirect contact [1]. A multitude of different communicable diseases are currently reportable in Texas including tuberculosis and many types of sexually transmitted diseases. Incidence rates for communicable diseases in this chapter are presented as crude rates, without age-adjustment.

Cancer is a vital health issue in Texas. Thousands of Texas residents are affected by cancer each year, and cancer is the second leading cause of death in the state and in the nation, accounting for one of every four deaths. More than 1.6 million Americans are expected to be diagnosed with cancer and more than 577,000 Americans are expected to die from cancer-related causes in 2012 [1]. In Texas, more than 110,000 residents are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in 2012, and more than 39,000 cancer-related deaths are expected [2].

The health of pregnant mothers, infants, children, and adolescents is an important public health issue. Maternal and child health services such as prenatal care, primary and preventive care, immunizations, and medical treatment are vital, because they have the potential to make a difference in health status and health costs over a whole lifetime. The maternal and child health status indicators in this chapter include inadequate prenatal care, preconception health care coverage, unintended pregnancy, preconception overweight and obesity, birth defects, and infant mortality.

Chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer, are currently the leading causes of both death and disability in the USA. It is estimated that 70 % of all deaths nationwide are due to chronic illnesses (1.7 million deaths each year), and 133 million Americans were living with a chronic disease in 2005. Although chronic diseases are some of the most prevalent and costly health problems in the USA, they are also largely preventable. Healthy behaviors, such as getting enough exercise, eating right, and avoiding tobacco, can help to prevent many chronic diseases [1]. In this chapter, chronic disease mortality rates are presented as age-adjusted rates; prevalence of chronic diseases are presented as crude estimates.

Behavioral risk factors are behaviors that increase the possibility of disease, such as smoking, alcohol use, bad eating habits, and not getting enough exercise. Because they are behaviors, it is possible for individuals to modify these risk factors to help prevent many types of chronic diseases and premature death.

A broad range of different environmental exposures can cause health problems including air and water pollution, exposure to lead and other heavy metals, pesticides and chemicals, and many more. This chapter covers two main environmental exposure health status indicators: elevated child blood lead levels and pesticide exposures.

Injury is a significant public health problem in the USA, causing disability and premature death regardless of race, sex, or economic status and creating a tremendous burden on our national health care system [1]. Injury is the leading cause of both disability and death in American children and young adults and is the fifth-leading cause of death overall in the USA [1, 2]. An estimated 182,479 individuals in the USA died from injuries in 2007 [1]. In 2007, more than 29 million people were treated for injuries in hospital emergency departments in America, and 2.8 million of these injuries were so severe that they required hospitalization [1]. Even though there are many types of injuries that contribute to injury mortality, three of the leading causes of death by injury in the USA are motor vehicle crashes, suicide, and homicide [1]. Mortality due to injuries is presented as age-adjusted rates.