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Disturbing Health Disparities


Health disparities are differences in the burden of illness, injury, disability, or mortality experienced by one group relative to another. These differences are closely linked with social, economic, or environmental disadvantages.
Source:Ā Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF).

Unsettling Stories

News about health disparities among Hispanic Americans

Disparity Disruptors: Individuals Working to Address Health Disparities

Lisa Cooper

Enhances patient-physician communication, addresses systemic racism, promotes health equity. systemic racism, promotes health equity

Alyson Shirley

Develops culturally tailored health interventions that incorporate Native American languages and traditions

Kafui Dzirasa

Innovates mental health treatments, mentors minority students, promotes diversity in science

Harriet Washington

Highlights historical and ongoing exploitation of African Americans in medical research and healthcare

News about health disparities among Black Americans

Health Disparities Data

Source: American Cancer Society Cancer Facts & Figures 2024.
AI/AN = American Indian/Alaska Native; Asian/PI = Asian American and Pacific Islander.

News about health disparities among Asian Americans

More Disparity Disruptors: Individuals Working to Address Health Disparities

Marcia Cruz-Correa

Spearheads initiatives to encourage regular colorectal cancer screenings among Puerto Rico residents

Diane Mahoney

Spearheads efforts to address health disparities in ovarian cancer care

Crystal CenƩ

Leads justice, equity, diversity, inclusion initiatives in UC San Diego Health system

Kelvin Choi

Leads efforts to understand and mitigate tobacco-related health disparities

News about health disparities among American Indians and Alaska Natives

Initiatives by groups to address Health Disparities

Penn State College of Medicine

Reducing cancer disparities and improving health literacy in cardiovascular health, cancer, and diabetes for rural and underserved communities in Pennsylvania

University of Colorado

Addressing high rates of childhood obesity among U.S.-born children of Latino immigrant parents

U.S. Oncology Network

Addressing patients’ health-related social needs by joining with nation’s largest social services support network

Allegheny Health Network

Targeting cardiovascular health disparities in Pittsburgh with Its ā€œEvery Heart Mattersā€ program

American Heart Association

Investing $210+ million in scientific research on health inequities and expanding opportunities for underrepresented groups in science and medicine

American Heart Association

Providing financial and technical assistance to companies in Minnesota focused on addressing health disparities within their communities

Nonprofit Colorado Access

Focusing on building trust within the Latino community to increase vaccination rates and address health needs

Distant Relatives

Providing crucial health care screening services to those struggling to access quality care in Washington DC

City of Boston

Targeting three main causes of premature death among city residents

State of Nebraska

Seeking to reverse Black maternal healthcare disparities by improving healthcare infrastructure in underserved areas

Maricopa County, Arizona

Creating with Arizona State University a Well-Being Hub to enhance quality of life where disparity in life expectancy is most pronounced

CaringWire of Columbus, Ohio

Developing advanced analytics tools to predict health risks and outcomes based on social determinants to address potential health issues

MyOme and Broad Clinical Labs

Supporting Southern Research Program to bring genetics-driven health insights to Alabama free of charge to address healthcare disparities

More Health Disparities Data

Spotlight on Health Disparities

In Arizona, English-only school segregation policies, systemic racism and xenophobic laws created stark mental health barriers for state’s Latino students, nearly half the state’s K-12 children. AZ ranks worst in the nation for having enough counselors to serve students.Ā 

The so-called ā€œHispanic paradoxā€ of good health began to unravel once researchers started digging deeper into the diverse subgroups within the Hispanic population and found significant differences in cardiovascular risk factorsĀ among various Hispanic ethnic groups.

Though Asians comprise 50+ racial and ethnic groups, their health data are often reported as a single ā€œAsian Americanā€ category, masking significant disparities inĀ  their communities. As a result, Asians are experiencing growing disparities from undiagnosed health conditions.

An average 55-year-old Black man has same biological age as a White man age 68, and a 55-year-old Black woman the same frailty of a White woman who is 75. This gap may explain disparities in economic outcomes such as disability, length of working life, and lifespan.

A recent survey of 6,292 U.S. adults revealed that one in three Black women reported negative experiences with healthcare providers that led to worse health outcomes or reluctance to seek future care. Three in five said they brace for potential insults before appointments.

So-called “deaths of despair” in the United States have shifted dramatically from White Americans to middle-age Native Americans, who now have much higher death rates from alcoholism, drug overdoses, and suicide than middle-age Whites.Ā Ā 

Recent reports about health disparities

American Cancer Society’s Cancer Facts & Figures 2025

ā€œCompared to White people, Hispanic people have lower incidence for most common cancers (female breast, colorectum, lung and prostate), but 36% higher incidence of cervical cancer and almost 2 times higher incidence of stomach and liver cancer, all of which are largely preventable.ā€

March of Dimes’ 2024 Report Card

ā€œThe US preterm birth rate remains historically high at 10.4% with significant disparities among racial and ethnic groups…In 2023, the rate of inadequate prenatal care rose to 15.7%, the highest in a decade, with even higher rates among Black and American Indian/Alaska Native communities.ā€

News about pressing issues in health disparities

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