One in 20 women experience intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy, according to a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report. The study, conducted from 2016 to 2022, reveals a disturbing trend that disproportionately affects minority communities, particularly Black women. The CDC findings show that emotional abuse is most prevalent, followed by physical and sexual violence. This abuse often leads to severe consequences for both mothers and their unborn children, including delayed prenatal care, depression, substance use, and low birth weight infants. Brianna Jackson, central program manager for Perinatal Outreach and Encouragement for Moms (POEM), highlights the stark reality faced…
Author: Disparity Matters
A new study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas sheds light on the often-overlooked health disparities in gastrointestinal (GI) cancer among Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) in the United States. The research reveals that cancer remains the leading cause of death for Asian Americans, with several GI cancers ranking among the top five most common and deadly cancers in this diverse population. The study emphasizes the critical need for disaggregated data within AANHPI communities. By examining cancer rates among specific ethnic subgroups, researchers uncovered significant variations in cancer risk and outcomes. For instance, Korean Americans…
New research suggests that a strong commitment to one’s ethnic-racial identity could serve as a protective factor against stress-related health problems for minority youth. This finding sheds light on potential strategies to address health disparities that disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minority communities in the United States.The study, conducted by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, examined the relationship between ethnic-racial identity commitment and physiological responses to stress among Mexican-origin youth. The findings reveal that adolescents with a stronger sense of belonging to their ethnic-racial group exhibited lower levels of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress, when faced…
A recent study published in JAMA Cardiology reveals that cardiovascular health (CVH) trajectories in children begin to decline around age 10, exposing significant health disparities among different socioeconomic and racial groups. The research, conducted by Dr. Issuddin Aris and colleagues at Harvard Medical School, analyzed data from 1,523 children in the Massachusetts-based Project Viva cohort from 1999 to 2023.The study utilized the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 metrics to measure CVH at four stages of development: early childhood, midchildhood, early adolescence, and late adolescence. Results showed a steady decline in CVH scores from midchildhood (84.1) to late adolescence (73.8).Gender…
A recent study published in Resuscitation Plus reveals alarming disparities in outcomes for children experiencing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (POHCA) across different communities in the United States. The research, conducted from 2021 to 2023, analyzed data from 27,137 cases of pediatric cardiac arrest, uncovering significant links between social determinants of health and survival rates.Communities with lower levels of minority races and ethnicities showed higher odds of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) performance and return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Wealthier neighborhoods demonstrated increased likelihood of bystander CPR, automated external defibrillator (AED) usage, and ROSC compared to the poorest areas.Educational attainment emerged as a…
Sinisa Dovat investigated genetic drivers of childhood leukemia and developed targeted therapies to reduce striking disparities affecting Hispanic/Latino children
A recent study published in JAMA Network Open has uncovered significant racial disparities in the identification and treatment of suspected child abuse (SCA) among pediatric patients admitted for traumatic injuries. The research, which analyzed data from over 654,000 pediatric patients, reveals that Black children face disproportionately higher odds of being suspected of experiencing abuse.The study found that Black patients had 75% greater odds of being categorized with SCA compared to White patients, even after controlling for factors such as age, sex, socioeconomic status, insurance, and injury severity. Hispanic patients also faced 11% greater odds of SCA categorization.Patients in the SCA…
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association reveals a significant gap in the provision of palliative care for heart failure patients, with racial disparities compounding the issue. Despite guidelines recommending palliative care for all patients with advanced heart failure, only a small fraction receive this crucial aspect of treatment. The research, analyzing data from over 95,000 heart failure hospitalizations between 2016 and 2018, found that a mere 3.4% of patients received palliative care consultations. This low rate is concerning, given the potential benefits of palliative care in improving quality of life and reducing hospital readmissions…
A recent study published in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities has shed light on significant health disparities among adults with disabilities from various racial and ethnic backgrounds in the United States. The research, conducted by CDC researchers using data from the 2007-2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys, focused on two key health risk behaviors: smoking and obesity.The study found that the prevalence of disabilities varies considerably across racial and ethnic groups. American Indian/Alaska Native adults reported the highest rate, with 3 in 10 living with disabilities, while Asian adults had the lowest rate at 1 in…
Marcia Cruz-Correa led efforts to reduce colorectal and hereditary cancer disparities among Hispanic and Puerto Rican populations