A new report from McKinsey & Company highlights substantial disparities in health outcomes between Black and White residents across the United States, with geography playing a significant role in these inequalities. The study examined various quality-of-life metrics across different community profiles, including urban centers, suburbs, and rural areas. While overall outcomes for Black residents have improved over the past decade, progress towards racial parity remains slow. Among the health-related findings, the report notes that Black Americans in rural areas face particularly challenging conditions. These communities have lower life expectancies for Black residents (74 to 75 years) and high uninsured rates (12 percent). Even…
Author: Disparity Matters
A new report from the McKinsey Institute for Black Economic Mobility reveals substantial differences in quality of life outcomes for Black residents across various community types in the United States. The analysis, which examined metrics related to key aspirations at the county level, found that while suburbs and exurbs currently offer the best balance of positive Black outcomes and racial parity, large disparities between Black and White residents persist in virtually every county nationwide. The report, titled “The state of Black residents: The relevance of place to racial equity and outcomes,” builds upon McKinsey’s 2021 study “The economic state of…
J.C. Abdul-Mutakabbir led vaccine equity efforts among Black and Hispanic communities, specifically combating COVID-19 vaccine inequity
Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina’s Hollings Cancer Center are spearheading efforts to promote genetic testing among Black women, who face higher risks of breast cancer. The initiative aims to address racial health disparities by educating community health workers about the importance of genetic screening. Caitlin Allen, an assistant professor at MUSC, emphasizes that genetic testing can help prevent disease by identifying predispositions and guiding additional screening and care. The research team has already trained 26 community health workers and plans to expand their reach to 150, potentially extending beyond South Carolina. Quisha Umemba, CEO of Umemba Health, highlights the…
Women of color face significantly lower alcohol treatment completion rates compared to white men, according to a groundbreaking intersectional study published in Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research. The study, which analyzed 600,000 discharge records from U.S. substance use treatment facilities, found that Black, Latina, American Indian, and Native Alaskan women experience completion rates 9 to 12 percentage points lower than white men. The research, the first to examine intersectional disparities in alcohol treatment completion in the U.S., highlights the compounded effects of multiple marginalized identities. While women overall complete treatment at slightly lower rates than men, the disparities for racial…
A new study reveals that living in disadvantaged neighborhoods may exacerbate age-related cognitive problems, with a more pronounced effect on Mexican Americans compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Published in JAMA Network Open, the research analyzed data from 1,614 participants aged 50 and older in the Health and Aging Brain Study — Health Disparities. The study, conducted by researchers from various institutions including the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and the University of North Texas Health Science Center, found that neighborhood disadvantage was associated with poorer performance on cognitive tests for both Mexican American and non-Hispanic White participants.…
A new study has revealed alarming disparities in stroke risk among young Black women with high blood pressure. The research, to be presented at the upcoming International Stroke Conference in Phoenix, found that Black women diagnosed with hypertension before age 35 face triple the odds of suffering a stroke compared to their counterparts without hypertension. Dr. Hugo Aparicio, lead author and professor of neurology at Boston University’s School of Medicine, emphasized the tragedy of early-onset strokes, particularly in midlife. The study analyzed data from over 59,000 participants in the Black Women’s Health Study, tracking their health over 23 years. The findings underscore…
Despite being preventable and curable, cervical cancer continues to pose a significant health threat in the United States, with about 11,500 new cases and 4,000 deaths annually. The Biden administration has announced new measures to combat the disease, including a self-testing initiative for human papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of cervical cancer. The U.S. is struggling to meet the World Health Organization’s 2030 targets for eliminating cervical cancer, with only 61.7% of teenage girls up to date on their HPV vaccine doses in 2022. Health equity issues and low vaccination rates are major obstacles, particularly affecting women in rural and low-income…
Minorities and other historically marginalized groups are significantly underrepresented in clinical research, exacerbating health disparities and limiting access to advanced medical treatments. Sarah Louden, the founder and CEO of Total Health, highlights the stark contrast between the demographic composition of the United States and the participants in clinical trials. While nearly 39% of the U.S. population consists of people of color, they only represent 2% to 16% of clinical trial participants.This gap in representation has serious implications, as noted by the National Academics of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, which states that such disparities compound health inequities with severe consequences for…
Hispanic and Black Americans are less likely to receive comprehensive biomarker testing for colorectal cancer (CRC) compared to their White counterparts, a recent study indicates. The odds of Hispanic or Latino individuals undergoing such testing were 31% lower than non-Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, while Black patients had 18% lower odds than White patients.The study, which highlights significant health disparities in the United States, underscores the need for targeted interventions to ensure equitable access to CRC screening and diagnostic services. These disparities are particularly concerning given the role of biomarker testing in guiding treatment decisions and improving patient outcomes in CRC.Colorectal…