Abstract
Disparities in health outcomes, or the differential burden of health conditions for specific population groups, are a continuing problem that cuts short the lives and compromises the health and well being of African Americans in the USA. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2007) reported that in 2004, African Americans had the highest age-adjusted death rate for any cause of all races and ethnicities in the USA, and these elevated death rates persist throughout life, from birth through senior citizen years (Williams, 2005). Specifically, African Americans had the highest age-adjusted death rate for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS; Black children in particular had a 200% higher prevalence rate and a 500% higher death rate from asthma, a 250% higher infant mortality rate, and a 200% higher incidence of SIDS as compared to their White peers. Relative to health compromises in daily living, roughly 40% of African American adults have some form of heart disease that can affect daily living, compared to 30% of White men and 24% of White women. African Americans are also twice as likely to suffer from diabetes, 1.7 times more likely to suffer a stroke, and 30% more likely to report serious psychological distress. African American senior citizens are half as likely to receive vaccinations for influenza and pneumonia as their White counterparts. African American children as a group have the highest rates of daily activity limitation (9%) of any child group due to chronic health, including mental health, conditions.
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Hudley, C. (2011). Ethics and Intervention Programming. In: Lemelle, A., Reed, W., Taylor, S. (eds) Handbook of African American Health. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9616-9_2
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