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Introduction
The health of minority groups often requires additional attention due to a variety of socio-political, cultural and socioeconomic factors. The health status of each minority group needs to be examined separately, and a proper approach to health promotion should be utilized. Various organizations such as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention monitor the health status of such communities and try to address any health disparities that are present in their lives. This paper will examine the health status of African American minority group.
Current Health Status
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration states that there are more than 44.5 million African Americans living in the United States, which makes up 14.2% of the total population. Their statistics show that the rate of illegal drug use among African Americans in 2014 was higher by 2% compared to the national average. The rate of binge drinking was 2% lower than the average, and the overall alcohol use was 5% lower.
The rates of mental disorders are also generally low with only 3.8% of adults experiencing a substance use disorder and 16.3% living with a mental disorder ( Racial and ethnic minority populations, 2016). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also known as the CDC, reports that currently, the health status of African American minority group is improving. The death rate has declined by about 25% between 1999 and 2015, especially for people older than 65 years old. However, a number of disparities in the health status exist when African American community health is compared to the white population of the country ( African American health, 2017).
Definition of Health Promotion
For African American community health promotion is defined as an essential part of survival. Despite the decrease in death rates among the seniors, African Americans are still at risk of dying from a variety of diseases that the majority group is likely to overcome through the means available to them. The sociopolitical and socioeconomic statuses of many African Americans prevent them from receiving appropriate medical care, and therefore, health promotion plays a vital role in the community ( African American health, 2017).
Health Disparities
CDC reports that African Americans in their 20s, 30s, and 40s have a much higher rate of contracting diseases that do not appear in the majority group until later years of age. These diseases are also more deadly than in the majority group. African Americans are 100% more likely to die from heart disease and are 50% more likely to develop high blood pressure than white people. Diabetes and stroke rates are also higher in African American community than in the white community, especially between the ages of 50 and 64. The disparity in mortality caused by the disease is also significant.
People of all ages are dying almost 50% more frequently than in the white communities. The primary causes of death after 65 years old are heart disease, cancer, and stroke. CDC also lists some of the possible social factors that contribute to these statistics. Issues of unemployment, poverty, lack of home ownership, inability to visit a medical professional, smoking, inactive lifestyles and obesity as the primary risk factors for the community. Out of the presented factors, unemployment, poverty, inability to see a doctor and obesity are the most disparate between the communities ( African American health, 2017).
Most Effective Health Promotion
The health status of the community requires an effective approach to health promotion that could address the prevalent issues of heart disease and diabetes as well as other conditions that are present in the minority group. The primary approach could include the implementation of a national program such as Million Hearts. It is focused on providing support to such communities by diagnosing hypertension, improving treatment protocols, and other forms of prevention ( Racial and ethnic approaches, 2017).
The Million Hearts program has provided examinations of millions of patients across the United States and by partnering with other medical professionals they can target African American community to lessen the issues of high blood pressure and heart disease. This program performs health promotion and disease prevention on the primary and secondary level due to its focus on both examinations of patients and their education about the importance of physical activity and healthy diet ( Million Hearts, 2017).
Conclusion
The health disparities in minority groups often threaten the lives of millions. Poverty, unemployment, and other social factors have shown to have a significant effect on the lives of African American, Hispanic, and other minority groups. Major national organizations monitor their health status, but despite the positive changes that were seen in the last few years, the disparity in health between minority and majority groups are clear. Nation-wide programs should be utilized to address the specific issues that the communities are experiencing. While the issues of unemployment and poverty cannot be solved by the medical professionals, they could still have a positive effect on the minority group through treatment and education.
References
African American health. (2017). Web.
Million Hearts. (2017). Web.
Racial and ethnic approaches to community health (REACH). (2017). Web.
Racial and ethnic minority populations. (2016). Web.
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