Disparities in Health
Our nation's health has greatly improved in the past century but large gaps in health status for many still exist. The burden of illness and death weigh heavier on racial minorities compared to the U.S. population as a whole. Health disparities can result from differences in risk factors, lack of access to health care, inadequately targeted prevention messages and cultural differences between the health care system and the population it serves. As a result, African Americans, Alaska Natives, American Indians, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Pacific Islanders are more likely than whites to have poor health, to be uninsured and to die prematurely.
NCSL tracks state laws addressing the following topics:
For Disease Specific Information, please select one of the following:
Cancer | Diabetes | Cardiovascular Disease | HIV/ AIDS | Infant Mortality |Immunizations
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Cancer
American Indian Women are 1.9 times as likely to die from cervical cancer as compared to white women.
Asian/Pacific Islander men and women have higher incidence and mortality rates for stomach and liver cancer.
In 2003, Hispanic women were 2.2 times as likely as non-Hispanic white women to be diagnosed with cervical cancer.
NCSL Cancer Resource Page |
Diabetes
African American adults were 1.8 times more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to have been diagnosed with diabetes by a physician.
American Indian/Alaska Native adults were 2.3 times as likely as white adults to be diagnosed with diabetes.
Mexican American adults were 2 times more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to have been diagnosed with diabetes by a physician.
State Laws Mandating Diabetes Health Coverage
Diabetes: Quick Facts for Women |
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Cardiovascular Disease
African Americans are 1.5 times as likely as non-Hispanic whites to have high blood pressure.
In general, American Indian/Alaska Native adults are 60% more likely to have a stroke than their White adult counterparts.
African American adults are 50% more likely than their White adult counterparts to have a stroke.
State Laws on Heart Attacks, Cardiac Arrest & Defibrillators |
HIV / AIDs
African American males have almost 8 times the AIDS rate as non-Hispanic white males.
American Indian/Alaska Native women have twice the AIDS rate as non-Hispanic white women.
Hispanic females have more than 5 times the AIDS rate as non-Hispanic white females.
2007 Prescription Drug State Legislation |
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Infant Mortality
African American mothers were 2.6 times as likely as non-Hispanic white mothers to begin prenatal care in the 3rd trimester, or not receive prenatal care at all.
American Indian/Alaska Natives have 1.5 times the infant mortality rate as non-Hispanic whites.
Puerto Rican infants were twice as likely to die from causes related to low birthweight, compared to non-Hispanic white infants
Maternal and Child Health Resources |
Immunization
Older Hispanic and African-American adults are much less likely to be vaccinated against influenza and pneumococcal disease than their white counterparts.
Immunizations
Financing Childhood Immunizations
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Sources: CDC, Office of Minority Health; IOM report: Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care; National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS); Office of Minority Health (OMH) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
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