Key characteristics of African Americans include higher levels of poverty, greater risk for poor health status, limited access to health services, and higher rates of morbidity, mortality, and infant death rate. The black exhibit higher chances of contracting, being hospitalized, and succumbing to coronavirus disease, cardiovascular conditions, and diabetes than all other ethnic groups (Manjunath et al., 2019; Akintobi et al., 2020). Racial discrimination, exclusion, and prejudice strongly predict these health disparities and vulnerability. African Americans have a long history of being systematically marginalized in many areas, including healthcare, housing, and education (Snowden & Graaf, 2021).
Poverty is a primary contributor to the vulnerability because many blacks lack the basic human resources mentioned above. Due to absence of jobs and low income, African Americans cannot afford healthy food, clean water, advanced healthcare, health insurance, quality education, and better shelter, consequently making them more vulnerable. In addition, this population has high rates of gun-related violence and accounts for the majority of inmates in the US jails and prisons (Latzer, 2018). These disparities explain why African Americans are among the most vulnerable and unhealthy communities in the U.S.
Certain health practices exacerbate the health disparities and vulnerability of African Americans. Particularly, the use of opioids to manage pain, the tendency of older adults to seek alternative treatments such as home remedies, prayer, spiritual healers, and advice from their family and friends, heighten their vulnerability (O’Rourke & McDowell, 2018). Moreover, some representatives of this population do not trust health providers and fear that they may contract diseases such as cancer if they undergo surgery. Such beliefs worsen the underutilization of health services, consequently increasing their vulnerability.
At the national level, I can advocate for this vulnerable population by calling for an expansion of insurance plans such as Medicare to cover chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. At the local level, I would develop training programs for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to enhance their understanding of cultural differences and how African American patients interact with providers and the healthcare system. Furthermore, I would work with local private and public sector organizations to enhance access to basic social services such as education, housing, food, healthcare, and transportation. Lastly, I would encourage regular and follow-up medical visits to reduce the burden of chronic illnesses prevalent in this population.
References
Akintobi, T. H., Jacobs, T., Sabbs, D., Holden, K., Braithwaite, R., Johnson, L. N., Dawes, D., & Hoffman, L. (2020). Community engagement of African Americans in the era of COVID-19: Considerations, challenges, implications, and recommendations for public health. Preventing Chronic Disease, 17, 83. Web.
Latzer, B. (2018). Subcultures of violence and African American crime rates. Journal of Criminal Justice, 54, 41-49. Web.
Manjunath, C., Ifelayo, O., Jones, C., Washington, M., Shanedling, S., Williams, J., Patten, C., Cooper, L. A., & Brewer, L. C. (2019). Addressing cardiovascular health disparities in Minnesota: Establishment of a community steering committee by FAITH! (Fostering African-American Improvement in Total Health). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(21), 4144. Web.
O’Rourke, M., & McDowell, M. (2018). Providing culturally competent care for African Americans. American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. Web.
Snowden, L. R., & Graaf, G. (2021). COVID-19, social determinants past, present, and future, and African Americans’ health. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 8(1), 12-20. Web.