CASE STUDY: Cardiovascular Health Challenges Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States, and African Americans have historically experienced poorer cardiovascular outcomes than non-Hispanic whites. The “Cardiovascular Health in African Americans” statement sheds light on several key issues that also affect Black Women in California. Despite advances in the identification of risk factors and the widespread availability of evidence-based treatment strategies, racial disparities in CVD-related morbidity and mortality persist. Black Americans, including Black Women, suffer significantly higher rates of adverse cardiovascular events. • Socioeconomic factors are a key contributor: Approximately 26% of African Americans live in poverty compared with 13% of non-Hispanic whites. This economic disparity adversely affects access to quality preventive care and timely medical intervention. Significant Findings: • Chronic Diseases and Stress The literature also suggests that psychological stress, which may be compounded by experiences of racial discrimination, directly influences cardiovascular risk factors. The cumulative effect of these risk factors contributes to a markedly higher incidence of hypertension, diabetes, and other conditions known to exacerbate CVD outcomes. Health Insurance • Despite 80% having some form of health insurance, Black Women experience:
consistently observed. Although the “Affluence and Breast Cancer” study primarily focused on associations between income, breast cancer incidence, and survival among White women, several key findings pertaining to Black Women emerged from the research. Key Points: • Despite a lower incidence of breast cancer in Black Women compared to their White counterparts, breast cancer mortality is substantially higher among Black Women 3. National data indicate a 41% higher mortality rate for Black Women even when their incidence rate is 4% lower than that observed in White women. • These disparities in outcomes have been attributed, in part, to differences in access to quality healthcare, delayed diagnosis, and various socioeconomic factors that may hinder optimal treatment opportunities. • Although the study provides an overview of breast cancer disparities across the United States, the patterns observed are relevant to California where similar trends have been documented in regional analyses. These disparities call for a focused re-evaluation of screening practices, timely diagnoses, and tailored treatment approaches that specifically address the unique challenges faced by Black Women in California.
• Higher rates of chronic illness (diabetes, heart disease)
• 1 in 3 delay care due to cost.
Violence Against Black Women and Girls
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CA BLACK WOMEN’S COLLECTIVE
EMPOWERMENT INSTITUTE
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