A recent study has revealed a concerning connection between past discriminatory housing practices and current health disparities in the United States. Researchers have discovered that historical redlining, a discriminatory practice that denied financial services to residents in economically disadvantaged areas, is associated with higher rates of diabetes among racial and ethnic minority populations. The study, published in Diabetes Care, analyzed data from over 11,000 U.S. census tracts, uncovering an average diabetes prevalence of 11.8%. More importantly, the research demonstrated that areas historically subjected to redlining show both direct and indirect links to increased diabetes rates through various social factors. Redlining, which involved…
Author: Disparity Matters
Organ donation has emerged as a critical issue for the Black community, as health disparities continue to disproportionately affect African Americans. Despite comprising only 13% of the U.S. population, Black Americans represent about 30% of those on the national waiting list for kidney transplants, highlighting a stark imbalance in organ availability and need.The demand for organ transplants in the Black community is exacerbated by higher rates of conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. These health issues often lead to a greater need for kidney, heart, and liver transplants. However, the supply of organs remains tragically low, resulting in longer…
Partnering with One Stop Cancer Shop to provide free cancer screenings to communities at higher risk of cancer-related deaths in Omaha
The escalating prices of prescription medications are creating a health crisis that disproportionately affects Black Americans, according to a recent report from Patients for Affordable Drugs. This year alone, the costs of 1,000 prescription drugs have increased, with nearly half of these hikes outpacing inflation. The impact is particularly severe for Black and Latino patients aged 65 and older, who report the highest levels of difficulty in accessing their medications. This trend is exacerbating existing health disparities and putting essential treatments out of reach for many. Minority women face some of the most significant challenges. For instance, Enhertu, a drug used to…
A new study reveals alarming racial disparities in infant mortality rates due to congenital heart disease (CHD). Presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition, the research found that Black infants are 40% more likely to die from CHD than White infants. The study, which analyzed data from over 60 million live births between 2005 and 2019, showed that while overall infant mortality rates for CHD decreased by 25.2%, the gap between Black and White infants remained unchanged. Black infants consistently faced higher mortality rates throughout both the neonatal and post-neonatal periods. Lead author Kwadwo Danso, MBChB, stated,…
A recent study has uncovered significant racial disparities in the use of menopausal hormone therapy (HT) among women in the United States. The research, published in JAMA Health Forum, shows a dramatic 82% decline in HT use from 1999 to 2020, with the sharpest drops observed among minority women. The study, which analyzed data from over 13,000 postmenopausal women, found that HT use fell from 26.9% in 1999 to just 4.7% in 2020 across all age groups. However, the decline was not uniform across racial and ethnic lines. Hispanic women experienced a decline from 13.8% to 2.6%, while Black women saw an…
Studying implementation of the Walk Your Heart to Health program in African Methodist Episcopal (AME) churches
Expanding educational opportunities for Latino and low-income students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields
Chronic kidney disease affects over 37 million Americans, with racial and ethnic minorities bearing a disproportionate burden. Black and Hispanic patients face significantly higher risks of kidney failure compared to their non-Hispanic white counterparts, partly due to delayed specialist referrals. Despite recognizing these disparities in the 1980s, progress has been minimal. The use of race in clinical algorithms, particularly in assessing kidney disease severity, has come under scrutiny. Until recently, two widely adopted equations incorporated a Black or non-Black race variable, potentially propagating racial bias in medical decision-making. In response to these concerns, professional organizations developed a new clinical algorithm…
Despite being one of the fastest-growing populations in the United States, Hispanic communities continue to face severe inequities in health care access and outcomes, according to a report published by PPL First, a company that provides programs and resources to support community health and caregiving.Insurance remains a major barrier. In 2020, 18.3% of Hispanics were uninsured compared to just 5.4% of whites. That gap represents nearly 11 million people without reliable access to medical services. Lack of coverage translates into lower use of preventive care and higher risks of chronic illness. For example, while diabetes occurs at similar rates among…