Health disparities and barriers to health promotion among African-Americans

Health Promotion

Minority health is one of the most critical components of public health promotion in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2014), "some minorities experience a disproportionate burden of preventable disease, death, and disability," versus "non-minorities," meaning whites. Health promotion depends on ensuring equitable distribution of resources as a matter of social justice. While there are many diseases endemic to specific populations for genetic reasons, health disparity among different minority groups is more often than not related to socio-economic factors ranging from perceived accessibility of the health care system, the system being unable to meet the needs of cultural or linguistic diversity, and the impact of poverty on health outcomes. This paper will analyze the implications for health disparities in the United States by focusing on one of the largest ethnic contingencies in the United States, African-Americans.

Health Status of African-Americans

The leading causes of death among African-Americans include heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. These are roughly in line with national averages for all ethnic groups, as heart disease and cancer are the two top leading causes of death for all Americans (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). However, historically African-Americans have poorer health outcomes than whites. African-Americans have a "higher prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and sexually transmitted infections when compared with Whites," (Dreeben, 2001). Not only are prevalence rates higher; so too are mortality rates. African-Americans have the highest mortality rates for cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic lower respiratory disease, diabetes, and stroke vs. Caucasians and most other ethnic groups (Henderson, 2014). Current health status among African-Americans indicates that African-Americans are equally as likely to die of heart disease as whites but generally suffer from preventable diseases more often than need be (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014).

Health Promotion and Level of Prevention

Primary prevention focuses on global issues. For example, lifestyle choices leading to preventable diseases need to be cultivated at an early age, and therefore educators need to recognize the relevance of empowering children to make choices that will affect their future. Likewise, changing community infrastructure to promote more physical activity and increase access to healthy foods will also be crucial to improving health outcomes in America's black communities. Empowerment, both personal and community empowerment, is the key to health promotion in the African-American community. Most of the health disparities and issues in the African-American community are preventable. Therefore, changes to lifestyle can reduce health disparities and promote health among individuals and the community as a whole.

Secondary prevention entails recognizing at-risk communities and individuals and ensuring they have access to needed resources and services ranging from medications to modified work schedules. These measures are critical for individuals and communities suffering from economic disenfranchisement. Improving the economic outcomes within black communities will help promote health in general, including mental health. Likewise, tertiary prevention methods include the provision of long-term health care services where they are needed, to reduce disparities in mortality rates. If more African-Americans had access to quality interventions, health disparities could be reduced.

Conclusion

African-Americans suffer from higher disease prevalence and mortality rates vs. The general population. Health disparity is directly related to socio-economic issues. Health promotion therefore depends on reducing socio-economic disparity and promoting social justice. The levels of prevention are therefore personal, familial, communal, and societal. Personal choice, family and community norms, and social structures and institutions all need to jointly promote health in the African-American community.