African Americans commonly referred to as Black Americans are an ethnic group that
trace its origin from enslaved black people. The number of African Americans is approximately
48.8 million which represents 14.6% of the United States population (2018). African American population is the second least healthy ethnic group after Latinos in the United States of America. According to a report by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (2014), the major cause of disparities in the American healthcare system is racial
discrimination and ethnicity. The report observes that race and ethnicity are the leading
determinant of the nature and quality of treatment. The disparity in the American healthcare
system has contributed to the high mortality and illness rate among African Americans. Past
efforts to reduce the racial disparities in the American health system have proved futile because
African Americans still face challenges in accessing healthcare today. This paper attempts to
explain the challenges faced by African Americans in accessing healthcare and how they can be
reduced. The paper will argue that the current disparity in America’s healthcare system
pose challenges to African Americans, thus it is time to implement a non-discriminative system. African Americans’ challenges in healthcare
African Americans experience discrimination in the treatment of diabetes, breast cancer
and heart diseases. African Americans are 10 times more likely to undergo a limb amputation
during the treatment of diabetes compared to white Americans. Research also shows that the rate
of hospitalization for diabetic African-Americans is three times higher compared white
Americans. The mortality rate for African American women suffering from breast cancer is also
shown to be 50 percent higher than for white women.
African Americans experience discrimination in the treatment of diabetes, breast cancer
and heart diseases. African Americans are 10 times more likely to undergo a limb amputation
during the treatment of diabetes compared to white Americans. Research also shows that the rate
of hospitalization for diabetic African-Americans is three times higher compared white
Americans. The mortality rate for African American women suffering from breast cancer is also
shown to be 50 percent higher than for white women. African Americans’ challenges in healthcare
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