In a critical examination of health disparities, recent findings highlight the alarming rate of HIV infections among gay Black men in the United States, attributing a significant portion of the blame to inadequate access to health care. Deion Hawkins, an expert in Critical Race Theory (CRT) and health communication campaigns, underscores the disproportionate impact of HIV on the Black community, particularly among gay and bisexual men. This demographic accounted for 26% of the 36,801 new HIV diagnoses in 2019, marking them as the most affected group in the country.Hawkins, who serves as an Assistant Professor of Argumentation & Advocacy and…
Author: Disparity Matters
Black Americans and those with lower socioeconomic status who have Type 2 diabetes face increased risk factors for colorectal cancer, according to a new study from University of Wisconsin researchers. The findings highlight ongoing racial disparities in cancer research and treatment. The study, co-authored by UW assistant professor Shaneda Warren Andersen, specifically included marginalized groups often excluded from medical research. It found that preventative screenings can help mitigate increased colorectal cancer risk for those with diabetes. “Because most of that [cancer] research takes place in white samples, we wanted to see if this association also existed in the southern community cohort, which…
Heart disease, the leading cause of death for Americans, disproportionately affects Native American communities. In Forest County, the death rate for heart disease among Native Americans aged 35 and older is 464 per 100,000, significantly higher than the overall rate of 344 per 100,000. Dr. Anupama Joseph, a non-invasive cardiologist at the University of Wisconsin, attributes this disparity to “long term consequences of intergenerational trauma and the effects of colonialism.” She points to the historical reliance on commodity foods, which are often processed and high in sugar, as a contributing factor to higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease in…
A new study published in The Journal of Urology reveals that racial representation significantly impacts trust in online prostate cancer information among Black men. Researchers found that websites lacking Black representation were less likely to be trusted by Black patients seeking information about prostate cancer. Dr. Stacy Loeb of New York University Langone Health, the study’s lead author, emphasized, “Our study shows that representation matters to Black patients seeking prostate cancer information online.” The lack of Black representation in prostate cancer content gave some participants the false impression that Black men are at lower risk for the disease, despite national…
Native Americans are experiencing heart disease at higher rates compared to other demographics, with significant premature mortality, a recent study reveals. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that in Forest County, the death rate from heart disease among Native Americans aged 35 and older is 464 per 100,000, compared to 344 per 100,000 for the general population of the same age group.Dr. Anupama Joseph, a non-invasive cardiologist at the University of Wisconsin, emphasizes that cardiovascular disease prevention and addressing health disparities are her primary concerns. Dr. Joseph, who conducts a preventive cardiology clinic four times…
Recent studies show that Black Americans are less likely to receive kidney transplants from living donors compared to White Americans. This difference has remained the same over the past decade. Researchers looked at data from 2008 to 2018 and found that among adults waiting for a kidney transplant, about one-third were Black, and two-thirds were White. However, when it came to actually receiving a kidney from a living donor, only 14.1% of the recipients were Black, while 85.9% were White. Several factors contribute to this disparity. Black Americans often face challenges such as financial difficulties, poor communication with healthcare providers,…
A comprehensive study reveals significant racial disparities in the health outcomes of living kidney donors, with non-white donors experiencing worse health post-donation. The research, led by McElroy LM, Schappe T, Mohottige D, and colleagues, published in JAMA Network Open, scrutinizes living donor kidney transplant centers across the United States from 2008 to 2018. The findings underscore a persistent inequity in the aftermath of kidney donation, affecting African American, Hispanic, and Asian donors more adversely than their white counterparts.The study’s authors call for a concerted effort to address these disparities, which may include improving access to healthcare and post-donation support for…
A groundbreaking study led by University of Wisconsin assistant professor Shaneda Warren Andersen (above), alongside UW cancer researcher Tom Lawler and PhD candidate Zoe Walts, has unveiled significant disparities in cancer risks among marginalized communities, particularly focusing on the link between Type 2 diabetes and colorectal cancer in Black Americans and lower socioeconomic groups. The research, aiming to fill the gap left by previous studies predominantly conducted on white populations, discovered that these underrepresented groups face increased risk factors for colorectal cancer associated with Type 2 diabetes. The team emphasized the necessity of including diverse populations in medical research to…
A new study from the University of Wisconsin found that Black Americans and people who don’t make a lot of money are more likely to get colon cancer if they have Type 2 diabetes. This is compared to white people with diabetes. The study was done by Shaneda Warren Andersen, Tom Lawler, and Zoe Walts. They wanted to make sure they studied people from different backgrounds because other studies didn’t always do that. The study shows that some groups of people have more health problems because they aren’t included in medical research as often and can’t always get the…
The Food and Drug Administration’s plan to consider banning formaldehyde in hair-straightening products, tentatively scheduled for April, is facing criticism as too little, too late. Scientists and advocates argue the proposal inadequately addresses health risks disproportionately affecting Black women, who are the primary users of chemical hair straighteners. Recent studies have linked frequent use of hair relaxers to increased risks of breast, ovarian and uterine cancers. While formaldehyde has been classified as a carcinogen since 2011, experts say other hazardous chemicals in straighteners likely contribute to these hormone-driven cancers. “The fact that formaldehyde is still allowed in hair care products…