How to Advocate for Your Health: Tips for Minorities and Immigrants
In a perfect world, healthcare would be equally accessible to everyone. However, for minority groups and immigrants, navigating the healthcare system is often a complex and daunting task. The combination of language barriers, cultural differences, and unfamiliarity with the system can make it challenging for these minority groups to access the care they need.
At Humanity In Health, we know that healthcare professionals need to learn more about patient backgrounds and disparities in healthcare. However, patients can also play a role in their health outcomes. By learning how to be your own healthcare advocate, you can equip yourself to make informed decisions and ensure you receive the best possible care. Here are some tips to help you advocate for yourself while navigating the healthcare system.
Take Control of Your Health
Taking control of your health is a powerful step toward reducing your reliance on the healthcare system. Embrace a healthy lifestyle and focus on disease prevention rather than treatment alone. Cleveland Clinic explains that simple changes like making balanced food choices and incorporating regular physical activity into your routine can make a world of difference. Even if you’re limited by a busy work schedule, there are ways to stay active, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator or going for a walk during your lunch break. These small adjustments to your routine can help you actively manage your own health and offer a sense of empowerment over your own well-being.
Keep Copies of Your Health Records
Staying informed about your medical history can make your medical experience go much more smoothly. By keeping copies of your health records, you’ll be able to submit requested forms promptly, streamlining the process and ensuring you get the care you need as quickly as possible. To expedite this process further, consider using a digital tool to sign and fill out PDF forms online—you can do it with a PDF filler. This eliminates the need to print, fill, scan, and re-upload documents.
Understand Your Health Insurance
Understanding the benefits and limitations of your health insurance policy is fundamental in advocating for your health, especially as an immigrant. Start by carefully reviewing your policy, focusing on coverage details, co-pays, deductibles, and in-network providers. This information will allow you to make informed decisions about your care without putting your finances at risk. Language barriers can add complexity to the health insurance process, so don’t hesitate to ask for assistance from healthcare administrators or insurance representatives.
Improve Your Health Literacy
Health literacy, or the ability to understand, process, and use health information to make informed decisions, is a vital skill for everyone. According to the CDC, health literacy issues occur when people aren’t familiar with medical terms or how their bodies work. Due to a variety of factors, including language barriers and educational disparities, immigrants and other minority groups often struggle with health literacy. To bridge this gap, individuals can improve their health literacy by seeking credible sources of information, joining community health education programs, and asking for clarification from healthcare providers. Don’t hesitate to speak up if you don’t understand something.
Explore Community Resources
Minority groups and immigrants have access to various community resources that can help them navigate the healthcare system. Connect with organizations that support immigrant health, providing essential guidance, language assistance, and culturally sensitive healthcare services. These resources can offer assistance in navigating the complexities of healthcare. Whether you could use help finding affordable healthcare options, understanding your rights, or accessing community health education programs, these resources can play an important role in your ability to advocate for yourself.
While minorities and immigrants often face unique challenges in navigating the complex healthcare system, everyone has the power to advocate for their own health. Take charge of your well-being by making healthy lifestyle choices, reviewing your health insurance, storing copies of your medical documents, and seeking opportunities to improve your health literacy. Together with your healthcare team, you can create a more equitable healthcare landscape where everyone receives the care they need.
Are you a healthcare professional? Check out Humanity In Health to learn about cultural competence and disparities in care among patients with different backgrounds.
Written By: Patricia Sarmiento,
PsychTech Part 3: Advancing Equity in Healthcare through Cognitive Science
Hi everyone! Welcome to the 3rd part of our series! Today we will be discussing how cognitive science can be applied to healthcare systems to reduce health disparities.
In recent years, the intersection of cognitive science and technology has emerged as a powerful force for transforming the healthcare landscape. This fusion holds the earth-shattering potential to bridge longstanding gaps in healthcare equity, ensuring that every individual receives the care they deserve regardless of their background.
Cognitive science, the study of how the mind processes information, has found a natural ally in technology. Machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data analytics are at the forefront of this movement. These tenets of Cognitive Science are also vital towards advancing equity in healthcare.
Make it stand out
One of the most significant impacts of cognitive science and technology on healthcare equity is the democratization of medical knowledge. For example, digital platforms, powered by AI, can provide patients with detailed health information, helping them make informed decisions and engage actively in their care.
These platforms can reduce language barriers, simplify complex medical terminology, and even use NLP to consider cultural sensitivities, making healthcare more inclusive.
Furthermore, theories of cognitive science can be used for predictive analytics in healthcare. This cognitive technology can identify at-risk populations and enable targeted interventions. By analyzing vast datasets, these systems can predict disease outbreaks, help allocate resources efficiently, and reduce disparities in healthcare outcomes.
In conclusion, the fusion of cognitive science and technology is reshaping healthcare into a more equitable, accessible, and patient-centered system. By harnessing the power of NLP and Data Analytics through Cognitive Science, we can pave the way for a healthcare system that leaves no one behind, ensuring that every individual, regardless of their circumstances, receives the best possible care. As these innovations continue to evolve, we can look forward to a future where healthcare equity is not just an aspiration but a tangible reality for the future.
PsychTech Part 2: AI/ML in Mental Health Care
Hi everyone! Welcome to the 2nd part of our series! Today we will be discussing how AI and ML can be used in conjunction with mental health treatments to reduce structural disparities and inequities that underrepresented groups face.
As technology has continuously evolved, the landscape of mental health care has evolved with it. Harnessing new technology has proven to be a transformative ally in the pursuit of equitable treatment for all. Specifically, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning can be used to bridge disparities in the mental health treatment of minority patients.
First, Artificial Intelligence can be used to personalize mental health interventions, tailoring treatment plans to individual needs, while also taking into account cultural sensitivities and diverse experiences. By helping professionals personalize their treatments and using Machine Learning to analyze vast datasets, mental health professionals can guarantee better patient outcomes.
Moreover, ML and AI hold the promise of increased accessibility. A large part of the disparity facing minority groups is the language barrier. However, AI-driven translation services can be used to bridge this gap by provident live interpretation and translation, ensuring that patients can not only understand doctors better but vocalize their symptoms and conditions in their native language, helping doctors treat them better.
Finally, Machine learning can be used for Data-Driven Disparity Identification. AI can analyze large datasets to identify disparities in mental health care outcomes across different racial groups. This data-driven approach can help providers and policymakers pinpoint areas that require attention and intervention to ensure equitable access and treatment.
I urge you all to consider exploring technology and Artificial Intelligence because it will continue to expand opportunities to bridge disparity gaps in healthcare.
PsychTech Part 1: Mental Therapy
Hi everyone! I wanted to announce the start of my 7 part series: PsychTech. In this series, I closely examine the intersection between psychology and technology, especially its benefits in creating equitable change and improving patient outcomes.
Today’s piece will focus on technology and its impact on accessibility to psychological and mental therapy.
In the digital age, patients that need therapy are no longer forced to physically go to a therapy center to get the help they need. With access to online and digital options for therapy, the barrier of making a trip and driving back and forth to a therapist is completely removed. Back when there was no online therapy, many people that needed help were unable to get it due to the sheer inconvenience of in-person therapy. This is exacerbated by the fact that many have strenuous time and work commitments that simply don’t make it feasible to attend an in-person session.
Now, as a result of technology, online therapy options, such as: video calls, text messages, and phone calls, allow users to get 24/7 assistance, thus accommodating the often busy schedules of patients.
But even beyond accessibility, the use of technology for online forms of therapy presents itself as a more economically and financially sustainable option for many. Traditional in-person therapy is relatively expensive, which creates a tough financial impediment for those that want therapy, but need to make rent. On the other hand, teletherapy and online support groups are amuch more cost-effective option and is a perfect fit for those with financial struggles.
Overall, this expanded accessibility allows therapists to reach far more clients and help even more people with their own struggles. For the future, technology will continue to be a key actor in the expansion of accessibility to psychological therapy!
See everyone in Part 2 of my Newsletter!
-Alan Lu
Technology in Healthcare
Technology is on the rise and has infiltrated every part of our daily lives. The use of tracking apps and healthcare apps has increased sharply. When dealing with healthcare technology, we must be educated on possible racial blind spots.
One common area where bias can arise is in algorithmic decision-making. If the algorithms powering healthcare apps are trained on biased or incomplete data, they can perpetuate and amplify existing racial or ethnic disparities in healthcare. For example, if a diagnostic algorithm is trained primarily on data from one racial or ethnic group, it may very well lead to misdiagnoses or inequitable treatment for individuals from groups that were not included in a dataset.
Another aspect is the lack of diversity among the teams developing healthcare apps. When there is a lack of representation from diverse backgrounds, it becomes more likely that blind spots and biases may be overlooked during the design and development process. It's crucial to have diverse teams that can recognize and address potential issues related to race and ethnicity. To mitigate racism and discrimination in healthcare apps, it's important for developers to prioritize fairness, inclusivity, and transparency. This can be achieved in 3 key ways
First, promoting diverse and inclusive teams and ensuring that development teams include individuals from various racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds.
Second, relying on user feedback and involvement, particularly from marginalized communities, to identify and address any instances of racism or discrimination within the app.
Third, having transparent algorithms. Professionals must ensure that the algorithms and decision-making processes of healthcare apps are transparent and explainable, allowing users to understand how decisions are made and providing recourse in case of biased outcomes.
Overall, It's essential for developers, healthcare providers, and regulators to be vigilant in identifying and addressing any instances of racism or discrimination in healthcare apps in order to create a more equitable environment.
By: Alan Lu
Diversity Among Mental Health Professionals
Achieving racial diversity among mental health professionals, including psychiatrists and therapists, is essential to provide fair and efficient care to all those who seek it. People of various racial and ethnic backgrounds might suffer from mental health illnesses. It is crucial to have caregivers who comprehend and can relate to their experiences since persons of color confront particular difficulties and experiences that may have an affect on their mental health.
Research has revealed that persons of color are less likely than white people to receive mental health treatment, and that the care they do receive is frequently of worse quality. The lack of diversity among mental health providers is one cause of this imbalance. Only 5% of psychologists and 2% of psychiatrists in the United States identify as Black or African Americans, while only 5% of psychologists and 3% of psychiatrists identify as Hispanic or Latino, according to the American Psychological Association.
Having a mental health provider who shares a similar racial or ethnic background can be beneficial for several reasons. For example, a therapist who has experienced racism or discrimination may be better equipped to understand and help their patients cope with similar experiences. Additionally, a provider who speaks the same language as their patient may help them feel more comfortable and better able to communicate their needs.
The lack of diversity among mental health professionals is not a new issue, and efforts have been made to address it. The National Latino/Psychological Association and the Association of Black Psychologists, for example, have been striving to diversify the field and support people of color who work in mental health. In addition, some colleges are putting programs in place to find and teach individuals from underrepresented groups to work in the mental health field.
In conclusion, racial diversity in mental health services, psychiatrists, and therapists is crucial for providing equitable and effective care to all individuals seeking help. As mental health stigma decreases and more people seek help, it is essential that mental health professionals reflect the diverse populations they serve.
Sources:
American Psychological Association. (2018). Ethnic and Racial Diversity Among Psychologists: A National Study. https://www.apa.org/workforce/publications/2018-ethnic-racial-diversity.pdf
National Institute of Mental Health. (2020). Minority Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/minority-mental-health
Satcher, D. (2001). Mental Health: Culture, Race, and Ethnicity: A Supplement to Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK44243/
By: Alan Lu
Disparities among the Native American Population
Often times when discussing institutionalized discrimination and disparities in healthcare, Native American issues are glossed over. Being one of the most underserved populations in the country, Native Americans face numerous medical challenges that require immediate attention, and the first thing we can all do, is to educate ourselves!
One of the major challenges faced by Native Americans is the lack of access to healthcare. According to a study by the National Library of Medicine, less than half of Native Americans have a usual source of healthcare, and nearly a quarter of them are uninsured. This leads to a significant gap in access to preventive and curative care, which results in higher rates of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Another issue that Native Americans face is the disparity in quality of care. A report by the Office of Minority Health states that Native Americans receive lower quality of care compared to other racial and ethnic groups, even when they have similar health insurance coverage. This disparity in quality of care is due to a lack of culturally appropriate care, inadequate training for healthcare providers, and a lack of resources and facilities.
Moreover, Native Americans are also at a higher risk of substance abuse and addiction. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Native Americans have the highest rate of opioid overdose deaths among all racial and ethnic groups in the country. This is due to various reasons, including poverty, lack of access to mental health care, and the high prevalence of trauma and depression.
To address these medical challenges, it is essential that we, as a society, take a comprehensive approach to provide Native Americans with the necessary resources and support. This includes increasing access to healthcare facilities, providing culturally appropriate care, increasing funding for public health initiatives, and improving access to mental health services. Additionally, training healthcare providers to better understand the unique health needs of Native Americans and how to provide culturally competent care can help bridge the gap in quality of care. With a comprehensive approach, we can help improve the health and well-being of Native Americans and ensure that they receive the care they deserve.
Sources:
National Library of Medicine. (2018). Health Disparities and Inequalities Report - United States 2013.
Office of Minority Health. (2015). Native Americans and Alaska Natives.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2018). Opioid Overdose: Native American Communities.
By: Sreenidhi Saripalli
Cultural Competence in Nursing Homes
The elderly population makes up around 16% of the US population (Source). Around 4.5% of the elderly population live in nursing homes and 2% in assisted living facilities (Source). As such, it is important that the professionals working with the elderly population in such facilities are culturally competent in order to provide quality care.
The first step to take when caring for elderly populations in a culturally competent manner is looking out for symptoms of depression. Studies have shown that depression is frequent among inhabitants of nursing homes and oftentimes goes misdiagnosed (Source). Many residents may have different ways of expressing symptoms of depression and recognizing those signs can change the life of a resident. Spending time with the resident to make them feel appreciated and valued can include having them share stories about their hometown, doing activities together, and forming friendships with other residents.
Additionally, elderly people from different racial or cultural backgrounds may expect to be taken care of in vastly different ways. Whereas one resident may expect to be treated with utmost respect and adherence, others may exhibit more friendliness and offer small tokens of wisdom from their experiences.
Likewise, the different populations among the elderly tend to have different barriers to healthcare and communication. Certain populations may have a tendency to be from lower socioeconomic status. Other populations may have communication restrictions due to language barriers. Furthermore, cultural inhibitions may prevent a person from following a prescribed medical regimen.
Developing cultural competence takes patience and time. However, it is critical that healthcare professionals make an effort not only within the hospital, but in all clinical settings.
By: Sreenidhi Saripalli
Breast Cancer Awareness
As October winds down to an end with Halloween, the time to dress up in costumes and trick or treat, we must also think of the pink ribbon. The pink ribbon is a symbol for Breast Cancer Awareness Month which happens every October. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation(NBCF), cancer “Cancer is a broad term for a class of diseases characterized by abnormal cells that grow and invade healthy cells in the body.” For breast cancer specifically, “[it] starts in the cells of the breast as a group of cancer cells that can then invade surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to other areas of the body. “
Breast cancer can be treated in five different ways and according to the NBCF most treatment plans include a combination of those five methods. They are: “surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies. Some are local, targeting just the area around the tumor. Others are systemic, targeting your whole body with cancer fighting agents”.
Now being aware of Breast Cancer is simply not enough! We must also bring awareness that many members of marginalized groups often don’t have adequate medical care to diagnose breast cancer in its early stages, or the resources to receive treatment for it. African Americans are overrepresented in states that have not expanded Medicaid and often have inadequate insurance coverage. This is why the American Cancer Society writes that Black women are 41% more likely to die from breast cancer. Even with detected cancer, because of lower rates of treatment and surgery, they are 30% more likely to die from triple-negative breast cancer than their white counterparts.
It is so so important to draw attention to the effects of institutionalized racism and its effects on marginalized communities, especially during months of minority history awareness and cancer awareness!
By: Alan Lu
Health Literacy
Health literacy is vital to navigate the healthcare system in the United States. The AMA defines health literacy as “a constellation of skills, including the ability to perform basic reading and numerical tasks required to function in the healthcare environment” (American Medical Association Ad Hoc Committee on Health Literacy for the Council on Scientific Affairs, 1999, p. 553). Additionally, The WHO defines health literacy as “the cognitive and social skills which determine the motivation and ability of individuals to gain access to, understand, and use information in ways that promote and maintain good health” (WHO, 1998, p. 10). In short, health literacy is the scope to which people are able to digest information regarding healthcare and make adequate healthcare decisions.
Although health literacy is a necessity to gaining access to healthcare services, rates of health literacy are impacted by a few factors: age, minority status, education level, and persons with chronic disease (DeWalt et al.) The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing outlines three factors to discuss health literacy.
First, they outline obtaining information. Information is the best way to increase health literacy as patients who may not understand particular health terms or have difficulty processing complex medical paperwork will gain a vast amount of knowledge from learning more about relevant information. However, OJIN notes that most people without health literacy do not have access to the internet and receive all information from their healthcare provider, who they may have a hard time trusting.
Next, processing and understanding information is integral to health literacy. Although a patient may have received information, they must next digest the information in an accurate way. Helping people process information accurately can be difficult due to the tendency to agree to understanding information without accurately processing it. Thus, providers must ensure that those at risk of possessing low health literacy are accurately being educated and confirm that they have understood.
Finally, OJIN discusses using information. It is not enough to just obtain and process information. People of all levels of health literacy must be able to apply their knowledge in a way that will help them make better healthcare decisions.
By: Sreenidhi Saripalli
Organizational Cultural Competence
The first thing I noticed when I entered a hospital near me to volunteer was the board stationed near the entrance that mapped out the directions to each of the departments in the hospital. Although the board itself was simple, it was the translations underneath the board that grabbed my eye. Instead of the usual English and Spanish found, I also noticed the Arabic translations of the board, directions, restrooms, and more in the healthcare facility.
This hospital had recognized the large community of Arabic speaking people and took steps to ensure that the needs of this prevalent group of people were met and that they felt welcomed. The organizational cultural competence of the hospital extended to the diversity of the staff and inclusivity among even volunteers.
Organizational cultural competence is a set of “behaviors, attitudes, and policies that enable a system, agency, or group of professionals to work effectively in multicultural environments” (Cross et al. 1989). As such, organizational cultural competence must be achieved periodically while assessing the fluid dynamic of the community in which a healthcare professional may be practicing. However, the responsibility of organizational cultural competence does not fall solely on the healthcare provider. Instead, organizational cultural competence must be implemented throughout a healthcare facility by the agency to make services more accessible and the facility more welcoming to a diverse community.
Steps towards organizational cultural competence can include making sure that the facilities working hours are accessible to the majority of the community members. Additionally, healthcare facilities can be cognizant of their population and offer translations in languages beyond English.
Furthermore, representation can be a key tool to adequately reach the community. Having representation on administrative boards and advisory groups is an effective way to be reflective of the community. Last but not least, steps can be taken to modify care plans to unique cultural groups that are prevalent in the community (Source).
By: Sreenidhi Saripalli
National Immunization Awareness Month
The FDA has officially recognized August as National Immunization Awareness Month. Though vaccination has always been encouraged and promoted, given the times we are in, spreading awareness about immunizations is even more important than it has ever been.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the COVID vaccines have been subject to skepticism due to rampant disinformation. This disinformation has affected the attitudes of many towards the vaccines, especially communities of color. According to Hopkins Medicine, “Institutional racism and historical inequities in health care may also play a role in vaccine hesitancy among African Americans and other people of color. Incidents of the medical establishment endangering the health or betraying the trust of Black patients and research participants have complicated the relationship between the medical establishment and these communities.”
Disinformation and institutional racism in the healthcare industry contribute to why communities of color have been overrepresented in severe COVID-19 cases and deaths.
To fight this disinformation and disparity, we must educate as many people as we can about the development of the vaccines and show up in these communities(providing community testing, vaccination sites, etc…). There are two extremely important points to make regarding vaccines: they undergo rigorous testing and are effective. According to the FDA, vaccines undergo a rigorous FDA evaluation of laboratory and clinical data to ensure their safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality. Furthermore, the CDC writes that “studies following the use of the vaccines showed approximately 90% protection against symptomatic infection, severe illness, and death.”
All of these points aren’t exclusive to just the COVID-19 pandemic and the efficacy of vaccinations against it. Vaccines are extremely effective for various diseases and viruses: measles, whopping cough, HPV, smallpox, etc… Furthermore, our duty is to solve the clear racial disparities in our healthcare system regarding vaccines. We must continue to nurture, educate, and innovate to make sure communities of color do not disproportionately suffer from pandemics and epidemics of the future. Happy National Immunization Awareness Month!
By: Alan Lu
Celebrating Pride
June is the month of rainbows, Pride Month, a month celebrating the enormous progress and courage of the LGBTQ+ community. Knowing this, I’d like to draw you guys to an important topic that hits close to home, health disparities and issues that the LGBT+ community face.
According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, the LGBTQ community faces a wide variety of issues that need to be taken into account by healthcare providers and members of the medical community. Such issues include: 2 or 3 time higher rates of suicide for LGBT youth, higher rates of homelessness amongst LGBT youth, higher risk for STDs and so on…
Members of the LGBT community face problems that impact both physical and mental health as shown above. But besides facing these physical and mental problems at a much higher rate, members of the community also have problems gaining access to health care. According to Cigna Health, those in the LGBT community are less likely to have healthcare, more likely to delay getting healthcare, and more likely to report poor quality of care or unfair treatment by health providers.
To properly address these disparities, the medical community should educate themselves on why these disparities even exist in the first place. Institutional biases, such as legal discrimination for adults, social discrimination at school, as well as the lack of clinical research on LGBTQ+ related issues drive this deep disparity. Furthermore, many healthcare providers are unable to provide culturally competent care due to lack of experience or knowledge on the LGBT community.
Therefore as we celebrate Pride, we must think of ways, especially as it relates to the health of the LGBTQ+ community, to reduce these glaring disparities. Even though it takes a long time to completely override institutional and social discrimination, we can always start somewhere, and that somewhere is to educate ourselves on these important issues that they are facing.
By: Alan Lu
AAPI Heritage Month
Coming up in May is AAPI Heritage month. AAPI stands for: Asian American and Pacific Islander. Knowing that, I’d like to draw your attention to an incredibly important issue that is often not talked about at all, especially in media. The glaring health disparities and health risks that Asian Americans face.
Asian Americans have their own share of higher prevalence of preexisting conditions. According to Pfizer, “The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health report that Asian Americans have a high prevalence of the following conditions and risk factors: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hepatitis B, HIV/AIDS, smoking, tuberculosis, and liver disease.” Though there is information about these disparities and concerns, it is extremely underreported by the media and other medical journals and furthermore, extremely understudied. According to the 2020 Census, “Approximately 19.9 million people (6% of all respondents) identified as Asian alone in 2020, up from 14.7 million people (4.8%) in 2010. “ The Asian population in America is growing rapidly, which makes it even more important to start having conversations and dialogue, both in the media, and also in the medical community.
Increasing conversation around these health disparities and pre existing conditions is also important because it can help Asians get the care they need, medically, as well as shed a light on the many issues that our medical system should start accounting for. For example, the NIMH(National Institute on Minority Health) writes that “more than 70 percent of Asian Americans are foreign-born, and thus many have limited English proficiency” and that this also leads to the fact that “Asian Americans have the most difficulty understanding instructions in a doctor’s office”. It is important to start moving our healthcare system towards inclusion of everyone. Furthermore, starting dialogue at all can help Asians seek much needed care as NIMH writes once again, “[another challenge that Asians face] include differing cultural beliefs and behaviors and unfamiliarity with the Western health system” which leads to the fact that “that more than half of Asian Americans with diabetes don’t know they have the disease”.
This issue hits close to home because as an Asian American, our community has been ignored time and time again by the medical community leading to lack of data, lack of inclusive service, etc… With the AAPI Heritage month coming May, I hope you can keep this in mind and also help the Asian American community move forward.
By: Alan Lu
Racial Inequalities in Accessing Healthcare
February was Black History Month, and I find it extremely important that we talk about present healthcare issues facing the Black Community in the US. The healthcare system is undoubtedly flawed, with many arguing between private and government insurance. Amongst all that noise, unfortunately, the racial disparities in our healthcare system are often lost.
According to the CDC, Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy related health problems than white women. Furthermore according to the AJMC, “Overall pregnancy related mortality in the United States occurs at an average rate of 17.2 deaths per 100,000 live births. However, that number jumps to 43.5/100,000 for non-Hispanic Black women.
Though some might argue that maternal mortality is often caused by preexisting conditions or other issues that transcend race, the truth is otherwise. A lot of problems that lead to said mortality stem from racial income and educational inequality. According to the National Partnership Black women make on average 63 cents for every dollar paid to Non-Hispanic men. This income gap is evident when considering the gap in healthcare use for Black women.
Black women are more likely to not have the means to afford insurance, not have the finances to receive quality prenatal care, as well as the fact that many rural, black serving hospitals provide lower quality maternal care thant heir counterparts. Economic differences aside, many medical studies have shown that Black women are more at risk for many preexisting conditions or health complications such as: fibrous tumors (that grow in the uterus), preeclampsia, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, that can impact a pregnancy.
Overall, this issue must be talked about and addressed in more detail. Though changing systemic racism, and socioeconomic barriers will take years, decades even, we can always start somewhere by expanding access to healthcare for Black women around the country.