Studies show gaps in health based on geography, race
Health disparities in Black communities are an ongoing topic of discussion among health leaders.
Leaders with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention held a seminar Friday to discuss what could be done to combat dangerous trends.
Health professionals specifically called attention to cancer and black maternal mortality rates.
Dr. Wanda Barfield, of the CDC's division of reproductive health, says, ”Public awareness and public outcry is a very important component to the work that we do at CDC."
According to the Director of CDC Division of Cancer Prevention and Control Lisa Richardson, addressing the disparities involves several factors: better jobs, education, healthy relationships, exercise and access to healthy foods.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths across the board. The risk for minorities is even higher, especially for black men.
Richardson also explained access to care is a big factor in health outcomes.
Health leaders say screenings are an important tool to help catch certain diseases in the early stages. According to the CDC, cancer screenings in particular dropped 90% during the pandemic – and have still not rebounded to pre-pandemic levels.
Even geography makes a difference.
“A few miles can make a world of difference in how long we live. Several years ago, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation conducted a study to look at healthier communities and what we could do to make them healthier,” she said.
That study discovered large health gaps even in short distances between cities and rural areas.
“These gaps were probably caused by multiple social, economic and environmental factors,” Richardson said.
A recent study by Virginia Commonwealth University found a seven-year age gap between residents in cities along U.S. Highway 64 in North Carolina. Life expectancy in Martin County was 73 compared to 80 years in Orange and Wake counties.
Black women are three times more likely to die during pregnancy than white women. And, according to the CDC, 80% of all pregnancy complications, could be prevented. To curb the dangerous trend, health leaders say it starts with community conversation.
Barfield also called attention to a recent survey conducted in Illinois which found 30% of Black expectant mothers reported they were mistreated while receiving care.
“Common types of mistreatment that were reported included receiving no response to requests for help, being shouted at or scolded and not having physical privacy protected,” said Barfield.
To correct this, Barfield said healthcare professionals need to do a better job at listening to their patient’s needs and addressing them sooner.
Venus Standard is a certified midwife with UNC Health. She said increasing the number of minorities in healthcare professions, especially maternal care, could help reduce racial disparities.
“If you have somebody that comes in the room that looks like them that can give the same type of experience in their own personal life, I think that would change things a lot,” Standard said.
She further explained it would make patients more comfortable and establish trust.
“The providers and care team should represent the population we serve. That’s the first step in initiating a level of trust,” said Standard.
“It’s a systemic issue, meaning our whole country is in the same boat. North Carolina’s rates are unfortunately up to par with the rest of the country,” said Standard. “We all have biases; no matter what level, we all have them. Unfortunately these biases sometimes effect how we care for patients.”
Standard added the closure of hospital systems in rural areas only widens health gaps further.
