Background
As strides have occurred to close the gap in the healthcare disparities against Black women, there is still enormous work to accomplish.
Unfortunately, discrimination and inequality are both prevalent in society today. A prime example is the disparities within the healthcare system. Recent data has proven that Black women do not receive the same level of care as women of other races.
Inequality in healthcare today stems directly from slavery. Black men, women, and children were subjects to inferior quality healthcare and often used for experiments for medical research.
For example, gynecology research – which began in the 1850s, used Black women as the subject of unethical experimentation without their consent. These women were exposed openly, as experimental procedures were displayed publicly. Black women suffered through these experimental procedures without any pain medication.
Medical Differences Between the Races
Present-day Black women continue to experience excess mortality relative to other U.S. women. Black women have higher rates of obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Moreover, black women and babies have a higher mortality rate than other races. According to the table below, Black women are two-three more likely to have pregnancy-related mortality.
Furthermore, Black women are disproportionately impacted by sickle cell disease and its complications, as well as by anemia (almost all forms). Plus, non-Hispanic black women have a higher age-adjusted prevalence of obesity than any other racial/ethnic group, with estimates ranging from 34% to 50%.
Contributing Facts of Healthcare Disparities
Several factors contribute to the healthcare disparities Black women encounter. Black women are more likely to have lower socioeconomic levels. Access to quality medical care is often limited in lower socioeconomic areas. Clinics, doctor’s offices, and hospitals in rural areas typically do not have the best resources or a high level of quality care. The treatments, services, or doctors women need are not always available; therefore, requiring women to travel to receive the medical care they need.
Health Insurance
Additionally – the lack of health insurance and decreased medical literacy contribute to their inferior health. With rising healthcare costs, people without health insurance are less likely to visit the doctors. The lack of health insurance can cause medical concerns to turn severe without prolonged medical treatment or intervention.
Lifestyle
Furthermore, lifestyle choices also contribute to the prevalence of certain health conditions. Diet, exercise, and stress increase the likelihood of medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease and hypertension.
The black community has a unique history with food that also directly stems from slavery. Black Americans ate scrapes or remaining parts of animals – leaving them to concoct recipes. Examples of foods are chitterlings and pig’s feet. Eventually, these recipes, and others, led to the development of ‘soul food.’
Bias and Racism
As amazing and essential as healthcare professionals are, there are still biases within the medical field. Research suggests that chronic exposure to environmental stressors, such as racism, across the lifespan contributes to the weathering of the health of black women.
Implicit bias is a form of bias that occurs automatically and unintentionally and nevertheless affects judgments, decisions, and behaviors. Implicit bias can alter our perception and affect our ability to actively listen, have a non-judgmental attitude, make objective decisions, and communicate effectively with others. An example would be not treating a black patient for pain versus treating another patient with comparable pain of a different race.
In comparison, differences in treatment regimes, and cultural barriers to healthcare service use, constitute evidence of institutional racism. The difference some black women have to access medical care is an example of institutional racism.
Closing the Gap of Healthcare Disparities
Although strides have occurred to close the gap in health disparities Black women face, there are still improvements. Providing access to medical treatment to everyone can diminish the inequality black women face when seeking medical care.
Annual training for healthcare professionals on bias and diversity can decrease disparities within the medical field. While also allowing healthcare workers to acknowledge and recognize their own prejudices or those of their coworkers.
Finally, Black women can also change their diet habits and increase exercise to reduce certain medical conditions like cardiovascular disease, obesity, and hypertension. As Black Americans continue to fight for equality, society should acknowledge these disparities and work collectively to minimize them.