Useful Resources
African Americans: A Health Snapshot
October 03, 2008
The health concerns of African-Americans are varied and critical. African-American men have the highest death rate of all racial and ethnic groups, male and female. The 10 leading causes of death for African-Americans are: heart disease; cancer; stroke; diabetes; unintentional injuries; homicide; nephritis, nephritic syndrome and nephrosis; chronic lower respiratory disease; HIV/AIDS and septicemia. There is also a high prevalence of hypertension, infant mortality and tuberculosis. Nearly 20 percent of African-Americans were uninsured in 2007, compared to more than 10 percent of non-Hispanic whites, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' Office of Minority Health. This makes it difficult for some to obtain needed care. Blacks are also less likely than whites to have job-based insurance and are more likely to rely on public services. The 41 million African-Americans in the United States constitute 13.5 percent of the population, according to a 2007 estimate by the Office of Minority Health. They are distributed throughout the United States, with the greatest concentrations in the Southeast and mid-Atlantic regions. Updated March 2010
Resource Links
Blogs
A blog platform sponsored by the U.S. Office of Minority Health.
Most blog entries link to or include a related health article.
Guidance for Consumers
Health information specifically for black women.
Health information directed at African-American women.
10 ways African Americans can prevent Type 2 diabetes.
Tips for African-Americans trying to improve their weight and eating habits, from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Advocacy
Advocacy organization links to various clinical trials involving African-Americans and hypertension.
Raising awareness about the disease and its prevalence in blacks, this site links to specific legislation and coping programs.
Denver-based organization founded by black clergy to provide disease prevention and disease management programs to African-Americans in Denver.
Public Policy
Transcript of a 2003 media briefing on the effects of diabetes, influenza and domestic violence on the black population.
Interesting report examining African-American health disparities throughout history.
Findings from a 2001 survey of African-Americans about the quality of their health care, from the Commonwealth Fund.
Statistics, Trends and Research
Useful links to tables disclosing information regarding health status, health risk factors, access to health insurance, and more factors affecting the non-Hispanic black population.
Comparison of health status and health access of African-American men and other male minority groups in the United States.
Basic health profile with statistics on African-Americans.
Understanding the Issue
The goal of this branch of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is to eliminate health disparities.
