In the United States (U.S.) 117 million adults have chronic diseases, approximately 24.3% of this population has at least one chronic disease and 26% has multiple chronic diseases (Ward, Schiller et al. 2014). Seven of the top 10 causes of deaths in the U.S. are chronic diseases (Statistics 2016). Incidence and mortality rates are different for different racial groups (CDC MMWR, 2013); African Americans (AA) particularly experience higher incidence and mortality rates for chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer and heart disease (CDC, 2013). Furthermore, African Americans in South Carolina (SC) have some of the largest health disparities in the nation (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and …show more content…
Its overall goal was to reduce inflammation in a high risk population. The study was designed using principles of community-based participatory research (CBPR) to engage community partners from the AA faith community. Churches recruited within 40 miles of USC-Columbia campus were randomized as Control and Intervention based on social class and educational level. Participant’s eligibility was based on age with no reported cancer diagnosis or unstable co-morbidities that might limit participation in the intervention. Design of the Healthy Eating and Active Living in the Spirit (HEALS) intervention model was based on other studies (Harmon, Adams et al. 2012, Hebert, Hurley et al. 2012) and included a 12-week healthy diet and PA program combined with stress reduction and followed by monthly booster sessions for an additional 9 months to reinforce and expand on topics introduced in the first phase. The study design also included a 12-month delayed-intervention arm that served as the study’s control group (Hébert et al., 2013). Additional information on participant recruitment, study protocol and data collection are described elsewhere (Hébert, Wirth et al. 2013). Research protocols were approved by the institutional review board of the University of South Carolina (Hébert et al., …show more content…
6.36, p=0.02), but higher waist-to-hip ratio (mean: 0.88 vs. 0.86, p=0.05). When analysed continuously, a one-unit increase in health messages was associated with a decrease in HbA1c% (p=0.01). No other statistically significant associations were observed for the continuous form of health messages (data not shown). When stratified by intervention status, controls showed a similar pattern of results. However, these findings were not observed among the intervention group. However, those in the intervention group attending churches with more health messages had lower CRP compared to intervention participants in churches with fewer health messages (mean: 1.76 vs. 2.44, p=0.05; Table 2). When CRP was dichotomized (i.e., ≤3.0 vs. >3.0mg/L) the odds ratios between those attending churches with fewer health messages compared to those attending churches with more health messages were as follows: all participants (odds ratio [OR]=2.78, 95% confidence interval [95%CI]=1.19-6.48), intervention (OR=5.86, 95%CI=1.51-22.81), and control (OR=1.27, 95%CI=0.40-4.09; data not
African Americans are the third largest racial or ethnic population, totaling 13.2% of the United States population (CDC, 2015). Giger (2013) states, some health disparities associated with African Americans is due to discriminatory practices and inequalities in social, economic, and educational opportunities, rather than biological factors. Statistics identifies higher health disparities for this population reflected in overall mortality rates compared to other populations. According to the Office of Minority Health (2014), the adult mortality rate is higher in African Americans for heart disease, stroke, cancer, asthma, influenza, pneumonia, and diabetes, as well as higher rates of infant mortality. For instance, the overall adult mortality rate for African Americans is 860.5 per 100,000 population compared to 731.0 per 100,000 population in Caucasian Americans according to 2012 data (KFF, 2015).
Many people throughout the United States (US) have some form of chronic disease. Chronic diseases are conditions that are not passed from person to person (noncommunicable), have a long duration, are commonly slow in progression, and generally have no cure (World Health Organization (WHO), n.d.b). Currently, chronic diseases are the leading cause of disability and death in the US and about half of all adults have at least one chronic illness (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2016b). This means that nearly every person in the US will be affected by chronic conditions whether it be personally or through loved ones having these diseases. The most prevalent types of chronic
Health disparities among African-Americans is a continuing problem that has been seen over many years. African-Americans have higher poverty rates, have lower rates of insurance coverage, and are more likely to be covered by Medicaid, than the White population (Copeland, 2005). This lack of insurance has led many of these individuals, to not seek treatment for illness, due to problem accessing health care (Kennedy, 2013). This leaves African-Americans with little to no treatment, which causes an increase of medical care that will be needed further on in their life or a sooner than expected death, caused by illness (Copeland, 2005).
In today’s society, there are many different factors that can contribute to one’s overall health and well-being. Since there are so many different factors that can affect one’s health, there are inequalities that exist among people and this is knows as health disparity. "Health disparities are differences in the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and burden of diseases and other adverse health conditions that exist among specific population groups in the United States” (Nhlbi.nih.gov, 2015). Health disparities can be associated with factors such as: socioeconomic status, education, gender, race, ethnicity, age, mental health, and religion. There are certain health problems that can affect different groups more than others, such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS (Surgeongeneral.gov, 2015). One example of a specific population in the United States that is affected by health disparities is the African American Population. While African Americans are affected by various health disparities, one that affects this population more prominently is heart disease.
One issue with underserved populations is an increase in health disparities, not only race and ethnicity, but also gender and age. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (2014) list a number of key findings from a report on underserved populations and health care. Mortality rates from certain diseases and different types of death were higher in different racial groups than Caucasians (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). Morbidity of asthma, oral disease, tuberculosis, obesity, and diabetes were also higher in minority groups (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). Preventive screening for the over-50 population was just over 60%
The purpose of this research is to identify and measure the most common health disparities that cause African-Americans poor health outcomes, assesses the solutions, and provides alternative suggestions in order to reduce or eliminate the main health disparities.
Among minorities such as Asians, Hispanics, Indians, Native Americans, and Middle Easterners, the African American race has been affected tremendously by the health disparities in the United States. Currently, African Americans have significantly higher mortality rates from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV, unintentional injuries, pregnancy, sudden infant death syndrome, and homicide than do whites Americans (Fiscella & Williams, 2004). While African Americans may lead in these categories, other minorities are not far behind in experiencing health disparities.
Although the United States is a leader in healthcare innovation and spends more money on health care than any other industrialized nation, not all people in the United State benefit equally from this progress as a health care disparity exists between racial and ethnic minorities and white Americans. Health care disparity is defined as “a particular type of health difference that is closely linked with social or economic disadvantage…adversely affecting groups of people who have systematically experienced greater social and/or economic obstacles to health and/or clean environment based on their racial or ethnic group; religion; socioeconomic status; gender; age; mental health; cognitive, sensory or physical disability; sexual orientation or gender identity; geographic location; or other characteristics historically linked to discrimination or exclusion” (National Partnership for Action to End Health Disparities [NPAEHD], 2011, p. 3). Overwhelming evidence shows that racial and ethnic minorities receive inferior quality health care compared to white Americans, and multiple factors contribute to these disparities, including geography, lack of access to adequate health coverage, communication difficulties between patients and providers, cultural barriers, and lack of access to providers (American College of Physicians,
There are many factors that contribute to the current health status of Black Americans, but “Poverty may be the most profound and pervasive determinant of health status” (Edelman & Mandle, 2010, p. 39). Health care is expensive and can only be purchased by those who can afford to pay, so those below the poverty level are those who lack insurance. Without insurance their access to healthcare is limited, especially preventative care. No preventative care means more expensive care that comes with illness.
Healthy People 2020 discusses a number of special population’s that have barriers to care including; race, age sex, sexual identity, age, disability, socioeconomic, and location; this post will discuss race (ethnic) group. There are a number of races mentioned in healthy people 2020, such as, Asian, American Indian, Alaskan, Latino and African American (Healthy People 2020, n.d.). Access to health care in an ethnic group is multifaceted from the lack of trust, lack of health care education, discrimination and cost of care including health insurance. According to Howard, Peace, & Howard (2014), African Americans have a greater risk of three preventable diseases, hypertension, renal failure and bacterial infections stating; “no other disease
The health of a nation plays an integral part in the overall success and economic well being of a particular country. The United Stated, while pouring more money into the healthcare system than any other country, still stands as a broken system with inadequate care for many citizens. One of the most marginalized groups of people, African American women, continually score alarmingly low on basic measures of overall health. The healthcare discrepancies between white and black women in the United States are alarming, and they reveal flaws in the American health care system as a whole.
The United States is a melting pot of cultural diversity. For a country that was founded by individuals fleeing persecution, it has taken us many years to grant African-Americans equal rights, and even longer for those rights to be recognized. Despite all the effort to eliminate inequality in this country, health disparity among this minority group remains a significant issue. Research in this area has pointed to several key reasons for this gap that center on differences in culture, socioeconomics, and lack of health literacy.
The health of African Americans at the poverty level will decline significantly. With little access to healthcare and growing endemics such as coronary artery disease, lung cancer and diabetes health care will become a very large issue in the african American
"Theoretically, different CBT interventions target different aspects of the trigger appraisal, anger, behavior expression, outcome sequence. For example, although rarely sufficient in itself, many interventions involve self-awareness enhancement so clients become more aware of triggers, experience, expression, and consequences of anger. As clients become more aware, they can implement existing coping skills and initiate strategies developed in therapy." ( Deffenbacher. J 2009)
Butler brings to attention that even states within the United States that have a bigger ratio of “social services” spending to health care have seen better health outcomes, such as lower rates of heart disease and obesity (2). In addition, one must also consider the diverse population of the U.S. when it comes to certain preventative measures. Lesley Russell lists out some critical factors of the different races and their likeness to certain illnesses in the “Center for American Progress”. For instance, African Americans had the highest rate of adult obesity as compared to the white population (3). Some races may be more susceptible to certain illnesses and those statistics are important factors to consider when focusing preventative health care on certain population. If certain races of the population are more susceptible to obesity, for example, then we would need to inform physicians to advise those patients and perhaps offer some programs to help prevent further health risks. Although, focusing on preventative medicine rather than “reacting” health care might seem risky, there is enough evidence to see the benefits of implementing stronger preventative health care. Better to stop an illness from happening in the first place rather than when it is too late or risking falling into