Healthcare Disparities Affecting African Americans

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

Healthcare Disparities Affecting African Americans

African Americans face discrimination in healthcare. This discrimination affects their treatment for diabetes, breast cancer, and heart diseases. For example, African Americans are 10 times more likely to undergo a limb amputation due to diabetes compared to white Americans.

Additionally, research shows that the hospitalization rate for diabetic African Americans is three times higher than that of white Americans. Furthermore, the mortality rate for African American women with breast cancer is 50 percent higher than for white women. These disparities highlight the challenges African Americans face in healthcare.

Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach. It involves not only improving access to healthcare but also enhancing cultural competence among healthcare providers. Additionally, community-based programs can play a crucial role in educating African Americans about disease prevention and management.

Ultimately, the goal should be to create a more equitable healthcare system that provides all individuals, regardless of their race or background, with the care they need to lead healthy lives. APA