In the United States, 43 percent of all people with diabetes are Latino. African Americans comprise half of all new HIV diagnoses. African American, Hispanics, Native American, and Asian/Pacific Islanders in particular are at an increased risk for developing diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and stroke and are more likely to have higher rates of substance abuse, infant mortality, and low birth weight than their non-Hispanic white peers. Health inequities—differences in health status by race, ethnicity, gender, social class, or location—will become even more pronounced as minority populations continue to grow in the United States. But there are ways to make a difference.
In addition to providing culturally competent care, we also need to close the gaps in social and economic status, access to health care and the quality of care received. All of these factors contribute to the problem. Current and future public health practitioners must find ways to address and eventually eliminate the inequities have a negative impact on health as well as policy, economic and political implications.
Ways to get involved:
See what the Berkeley community is doing to address health inequities