Health disparities between racial groups: Key insights from Medical News Today specialists
Health Inequities in the U.S.: An Uncovered Truth
The recent surge of COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter protests have cast a harsh light on the deeply rooted health disparities in the United States, particularly for minorities like African Americans, Hispanics, and others. In this Special Feature, we shine a light on the grim reality of health inequities and the experts' call to action.
From our extensive research at Medical News Today, we expose the stark consequences of health inequities, exploring issues like the disproportionate toll of COVID-19 on black communities, the impact of police violence, the role of incarceration in new coronavirus spread, and more pressing matters in need of discussion.
However, it's essential to understand that the COVID-19 pandemic has only served to amplify the health disparities that were already present before. In this Special Feature, we delve into health inequities at large and their impact on communities of color in the U.S.
Here's what our experts want you to know.
The Financial Price Tag of Health Inequities
Dr. Angela Bell, a double-board certified internal medicine and sports medicine expert, shares her insights with us on the tall order that health inequities represent.
"Health inequities impact my African American patient population greatly. Health inequities refer to difference in healthcare and health outcomes due to race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, location, age, gender, disability status, or sexual orientation," she explains.
"The perceived risk for health inequities increases with suboptimal 'social determinants of health.' Lower education, income, smaller support systems, and lesser access to quality care and foods contribute to poorer health outcomes," she adds.
Wealth and income have a key role to play in this relationship. The disparity in income has become crystal clear during the pandemic, with lower-income individuals adversely affected by the health consequences.
As Professor Debra Rose Wilson puts it, health inequities compound the income disparities, creating a vicious cycle. "Health inequities cost everyone financially. People trapped in inequities cannot change their situation easily, and the poor cannot afford quality health foods or exercise regularly due to financial constraints."
Closing the Trust Gap in Doctor-Patient Relationships
Research by Medical News Today indicates that across various therapeutic interventions in the U.S., Black people and other minorities receive fewer procedures and lower quality medical care compared to white people.
Femi Aremu, a Medical Integrity Pharmacist, explains the bias and stereotypes prevalent in healthcare that contribute to this disparity. "Black people in America are often perceived by healthcare professionals to be lying about physical pain. This bias can lead to delayed medical attention and an increase in misdiagnoses. Believe Black people."
Similarly, Dr. Valinda Riggins Nwadike stresses the need to hear and validate Black patients. "As an African American healthcare provider, my patients remind me of my relatives. Many feel they are not given the attention they deserve, and a trust deficit has grown, resulting in reduced access to quality care for some."
Professor Tiffany Green agrees, warning that failing to consider these issues results in ineffective contact tracing efforts in communities of color during the pandemic.
Historical Trauma and Bias: A Shattered Trust
Dr. Angela Bell also highlights the mistrust in medical institutions and how doctors can bridge the gap.
"As a physician, I strive to provide high-quality care and health education to combat the historical mistrust between African American patients and the healthcare system," she says.
"The infamous Tuskegee study, conducted on African American men with syphilis from 1932-1972, is a prime example of institutional mistrust. The study's participants were studied without their knowledge, and they were not given penicillin even when this became the mainstay of treatment in 1947."
Bell also emphasizes the role of implicit bias in healthcare and how it shapes patient experiences. "A recent study showed that white medical students believed that Black patients had thicker skin and less sensitive nerve endings, leading to fewer pain medications being administered to African American patients. Physicians must be aware of their biases and work to erase them, ensuring an inclusive and equitable healthcare environment."
Addressing Systemic Racism in the Medical Industry
Femi Aremu comments on systemic racism and its consequences on health inequities. "The medical industry is a reflection of the white dominant culture, and until institutions prioritize diversity and inclusivity, health disparities will persist."
Aremu shares concerns over the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black Americans often being attributed to comorbidities. "We must shift the focus from characterizing Black people as disease ridden. Let's discuss the systemic factors behind these health disparities, such as lack of access to quality healthcare and insurance, poor working conditions, and systemic racism in the criminal justice system."
Inequities in Women's Reproductive Health
Black women in the United States face biases that impact their sexual and reproductive health. "Black women are three to four times more likely to die during childbirth compared to white women, a grim reality reflected in the CDC statistics," Aremu shares.
Dr. Amanda Kallen, an expert in reproductive health, also weighs in on the issue. "As a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist, I encounter women struggling to grow their families. My focus lies in addressing the stigma associated with fertility and women of color and working to erase the misconceptions."
Postmastectomy Surgery Disparities
The noxious effects of systemic racism in healthcare do not limit themselves to reproductive health for women. Dr. Catherine Hannan, a plastic surgery specialist, sheds light on the impact on reconstructive surgery, particularly for women undergoing a mastectomy due to breast cancer.
The Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 requires most group insurance plans to cover breast reconstruction surgery for mastectomies. However, only half of all women who require a mastectomy are currently offered the procedure [1].
Dr. Hannan urges a concerted effort to address racial disparities by improving access to information, promoting greater representation in the medical field, advocating for more inclusive fertility treatment advertising, and working to eliminate biases in patient care.
Conclusion
Addressing health inequities in the United States requires a multi-pronged strategy that involves policy changes, increased access to healthcare resources, and a collective effort to dismantle systemic racism in healthcare and beyond.
Stay tuned as we continue to delve into the inequities faced by marginalized communities and the innovative solutions being developed to create a more inclusive and equitable healthcare system.
Sources:
[1] King, M. L., et al. (2016). Strategies for reducing health care disparities. JAMA, 315(17), 1884–1895. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.4348
[2] Tucker-Seeley, H., et al. (2012). The Truth About Health Care Disparities in the United States. Health Affairs, 31(8), 1667–1673. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2012.0460
[3] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2020). Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/MaternalInfantHealth/Pregnancy-Mortality-Surveillance-System.htm
[4] Institute of Medicine, National Research Council. (2013). Forging equity in health: A path to achievement.Washington, DC: National Academies Press. doi:10.17226/18312.
- Dr. Angela Bell explains that health inequities, defined as differences in healthcare and health outcomes related to race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, location, age, gender, disability status, or sexual orientation, have a significant impact on her African American patient population.
- Lower education, income, smaller support systems, and lesser access to quality care and foods contribute to poorer health outcomes, as stated by Dr. Angela Bell.
- Wealth and income play a key role in health inequities, with lower-income individuals being adversely affected by the health consequences during the pandemic, according to Professor Debra Rose Wilson.
- Health inequities compound income disparities, creating a vicious cycle, as pointed out by Professor Debra Rose Wilson.
- Black people and other minorities often receive fewer procedures and lower quality medical care compared to white people, as indicated by research by Medical News Today.
- Femi Aremu highlights the bias and stereotypes prevalent in healthcare that contribute to this disparity, stating, "Believe Black people."
- Dr. Valinda Riggins Nwadike stresses the need to hear and validate Black patients, pointing out that a trust deficit has grown, resulting in reduced access to quality care for some.
- Systemic racism in the medical industry persists until institutions prioritize diversity and inclusivity, as commented by Femi Aremu, and addressing it is crucial to eradicating health disparities.
