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State of Black Health
THE STATE OF BLACK HEALTH
WHAT ARE HEALTH DISPARITIES?
FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW
The overall health of the American
population has improved over the
past few decades, but all Americans
have not shared equally in these
improvements.
Health disparities are cited as gaps
in the quality of health and health
care that mirror differences in
socioeconomic status, racial and
ethnic background, and education
levels. These disparities may stem from
many factors, including accessibility
of health care, increased risk of
disease from occupational exposure,
and increased risk of disease from
underlying genetic, ethnic, or familial
factors.
• African Americans have 2.3
Health disparities in America are well
documented. Racial disparities and
everyday discrimination are strongly
associated with health conditions
such as; coronary artery calcification,
blood pressure, lower birth weight,
cognitive impairment, poor sleep,
visceral fat, mortality rates and
diabetes, to name a few.
times the infant mortality rate as
non-Hispanic whites.
• African Americans experience
twice the average death rate from
prostate cancer; eleven times the
white diagnosis for AIDS and
are 4 times more likely to see
diabetes progress to end-stage
renal disease and four times
more likely to have a stroke.
• African Americans represent
fewer than 4% of the doctors in
the U.S. despite being 12% of the
population.
TAKE ACTION!
GET COVERED
Make sure that you and your family are
covered with quality health care. Check
out www.healthcare.gov to find out how.
REACH OUT
Once you’re covered, check on church
members, family, friends and neighbors
to make sure they’re covered too.
COLLABORATE
Develop a way that your church and work
with other churches and community
based organizations to get the word out
about getting covered.
PREVENTIVE CARE
Participate in preventive services and
screenings. Get annual wellness visits.
Make better food choices and participate
in some form of exercise.
• African Americans consistently
to pay a disproportionate price
for health disparities, spending
$54.9 billion of the total $82.2
billion for the U.S. in healthcare
costs and lost productivity.
10 Leading Causes of Death for African Americans
• Heart Disease
Respiratory Disease
• Cancer
• Homicide
• Stroke
• Septicemia (blood
poisioning)
• Diabetes
• Chronic Lower
• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Unintentional Injuries
• Nephritis, Nephrotic
Syndrome, &
Nephrosis (kidney
related diseases)
Questions For Discussion in Your Church
1. Why do you think childhood obesity rates for African American children currently top 25 percent, compared to nearly
15 percent for whites?
2. Why do you think African American adults are twice as likely as white adults to be diagnosed with diabetes?
3. One in five African Americans are uninsured. Discuss ways your church can become a healthcare navigator site.
4. According to a 2013 report by the American Cancer Society overall, about 1 in 2 African America n men and 1 in 3
African American women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. How can your church help in the fight against
cancer?
5. What new goals can your church set for its Health & Wellness Ministry? If you do not have a Health and Wellness
Ministry, make a plan to start one.