When it comes to chronic diseases, women of color face unique and significant challenges. The statistics paint a stark picture of health disparities that demand attention and action. From heart disease to diabetes, the impact on African American women is particularly severe. Let’s dive into five crucial facts about women of color and chronic diseases highlighting the need for urgent and equitable healthcare solutions.
1. Heart Disease Disproportionately Affects Women of Color
Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women in the United States, but it disproportionately affects women of color, especially African American women. According to HealthyWomen (2024), nearly 60% of Black women over the age of 20 already have cardiovascular disease. This alarming statistic underscores the importance of targeted health interventions and education.
African American women also have a 63% higher age-adjusted mortality rate from heart disease compared to White women. To put it in perspective, the age-adjusted mortality rate for heart disease is 91.3 per 100,000 for White women, while the Black-White ratio is 1.63 (KFF, 2021).
2. Higher Incidence of Diabetes Among Black Women
Diabetes is another chronic disease that disproportionately affects Black women. After age 55, Black women are twice as likely as White women to develop diabetes (CDC, 2021). Additionally, they often struggle with uncontrolled blood pressure, which exacerbates the complications of diabetes.
This higher prevalence of diabetes among Black women highlights the need for better access to preventive care, diabetes education, and support services tailored to their specific needs.
3. Elevated Breast Cancer Mortality Rates
Despite being less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer initially, Black women are 40% more likely to die from the disease compared to White women (Boston University, 2023). This discrepancy points to potential delays in diagnosis, limited access to quality care, and differences in treatment.
Understanding and addressing these barriers is crucial for improving survival rates and ensuring that all women have access to the best possible care.
4. Chronic Conditions and Maternal Morbidity
Black women experience higher rates of chronic conditions associated with maternal morbidity, including anemia, cardiovascular disease, and obesity (KFF, 2021). These conditions not only affect their health during pregnancy but also have long-term implications for their overall well-being.
The higher incidence of these chronic conditions among Black women highlights the need for comprehensive maternal care that addresses both immediate and long-term health issues.
5. The Impact of Racism and Socioeconomic Factors
The health disparities faced by women of color cannot be fully understood without considering the impact of racism and socioeconomic factors. Systemic racism and social determinants of health significantly contribute to the higher rates of chronic diseases among Black women (BU Today, 2023).
These factors include limited access to healthcare, food insecurity, and chronic stress from experiencing racial discrimination. Addressing these broader issues is essential for closing the health gap and ensuring that all women receive equitable care.
The facts are clear: women of color, particularly African American women, face significant and unique challenges when it comes to chronic diseases. From heart disease and diabetes to breast cancer and maternal morbidity, the disparities are stark and demand urgent action. By understanding these issues and advocating for equitable healthcare solutions—and by voting for leaders who prioritize these issues—we can work toward a future where all women have the opportunity to live healthy, fulfilling lives.
For more information and to support ongoing efforts to address these disparities, consider donating to relevant causes and supporting organizations dedicated to health equity. Kamala Harris has consistently taken a stand on these issues, making it all the more important to support candidates who will champion these necessary changes.
Kamala Harris' Perspective on Women of Color and Chronic Diseases
Kamala Harris has shown a deep commitment to tackling health issues that disproportionately affect women of color, particularly chronic diseases. Here are some key aspects of her stance:
Maternal Health Crisis: Harris has been a passionate advocate for improving maternal health outcomes, especially for Black women who face significantly higher maternal mortality rates. She introduced legislation such as the Maternal CARE Act and supported the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act to address systemic health disparities and implicit bias in maternal healthcare.
Uterine Fibroids: As a U.S. Senator, Harris proposed the Uterine Fibroid Research and Education Act to increase awareness and address racial disparities in fibroid treatment. This condition affects over 80% of Black women during their lifetime.
Cancer Research: Harris advocates for increased public funding for cancer research, recognizing the racial disparities in cancer outcomes. For example, while Black and white women are diagnosed with breast cancer at similar rates, Black women are more likely to die from it.
Healthcare Reform: Harris supports expanding access to affordable healthcare, crucial for managing chronic diseases. She has backed initiatives like the Affordable Care Act and proposed "KamalaCare," advocating for universal healthcare while maintaining access to private insurance.
Addressing Implicit Bias: Harris acknowledges the role of implicit bias in healthcare disparities. She supports measures like implicit bias training for healthcare providers to combat this issue.
Reproductive Health: Although not a chronic disease, Harris's strong stance on reproductive rights has significant implications for women's overall health, including those with chronic conditions.
Health Equity: Harris consistently advocates for addressing racial disparities across health and social care, which is essential for combating chronic diseases that disproportionately affect women of color.
Through these efforts, Harris demonstrates her commitment to improving health outcomes for women of color, focusing on systemic changes, increasing research, and addressing underlying social determinants of health. Advocating for equitable healthcare solutions is not just about policy but also about the choices we make at the ballot box. Who we vote for can significantly influence the direction of healthcare policies, making it crucial to support candidates like Kamala Harris, who are committed to addressing these disparities.
References
Black Women's Health Imperative. (2021, January 29). The election of Vice President Kamala Harris: What it means for Black women’s health. https://bwhi.org/2021/01/29/the-election-of-vice-president-kamala-harris-what-it-means-for-black-womens-health/
Ezar Psychology. (n.d.). Kamala Harris: The mental health impact of her rise as a woman of color (WOC). https://www.ezarpsychology.com/blog/kamala-harris-woc-mental-health
Goldberg, N. (2024, February 29). Did you know that heart disease affects women of color differently? HealthyWomen. https://www.healthywomen.org/content/article/did-you-know-heart-disease-affects-women-color-differently
Harrigan-Farrelly, J. (2022, February 7). For Black women, implicit racial bias in medicine may have far-reaching effects. U.S. Department of Labor. https://blog.dol.gov/2022/02/07/for-black-women-implicit-racial-bias-in-medicine-may-have-far-reaching-effects
KFF. (n.d.). Number of heart disease deaths per 100,000 population by race/ethnicity. KFF. https://www.kff.org/other/state-indicator/number-of-heart-disease-deaths-per-100000-population-by-raceethnicity-2/?currentTimeframe=0&sortModel=%7B%22colId%22:%22Location%22,%22sort%22:%22asc%22%7D
Manke, K. (2018, October 5). Racial discrimination linked to higher risk of chronic illness in African American women. Berkeley News. https://news.berkeley.edu/2018/10/05/racial-discrimination-linked-to-higher-risk-of-chronic-illness-in-african-american-women/
McKoy, J. (2023, October 31). Racism, sexism, and the crisis of Black women's health. BU Today. https://www.bu.edu/articles/2023/racism-sexism-and-the-crisis-of-black-womens-health/
Simons, R. L., Lei, M.-K., Klopack, E., Zhang, Y., Gibbons, F. X., & Beach, S. R. H. (2021). Racial discrimination, inflammation, and chronic illness among African American women at midlife: Support for the weathering perspective. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 8(2), 339–349. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-020-00786-8
Thompson, Z. (2017, March 30). 8 health conditions that disproportionately affect Black women. Self. https://www.self.com/story/black-women-health-conditions
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White-Gibson, Z. (2022, September 29). Navigating chronic illness and Black womanhood. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/ati-navigating-chronic-illness-and-black-womanhood
Wright, J. (2020, August 16). Kamala Harris' rise sends message of hope to young girls of color. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/16/politics/kamala-harris-girls-of-color/index.html
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