Latino children in the United States face substantial obstacles in accessing quality health care compared to their white counterparts, a new study has found. The research, conducted by the Urban Institute and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, reveals persistent disparities in health insurance coverage, access to primary care, and utilization of preventive services. According to the study, Latino children are more than twice as likely to be uninsured compared to white children, with 9.3% of Latino children lacking health insurance versus 4.2% of white children. Furthermore, Latino children are less likely to have a usual source of care,…
Author: Disparity Matters
An evaluation of a large cohort of colorectal cancer patients has revealed substantial racial disparities in overall survival and some interesting differences in driver mutations.“We found the difference in racial groups is not only about socioeconomic status but also about the contribution of cancer biology,” said Mahmoud Yousef, MD, a postdoctoral research fellow in GI oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, in Houston.Significant disparities in CRC mortality have long been observed among different racial groups, but they most commonly have been attributed to unequal access to healthcare and associated delays in diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Yousef…
A joint investigation by The Markup and The Washington Post has uncovered significant inequities in liver transplant access for Native Americans. Reporters Annie Gilbertson and Ben Tanen found that Native American people are much less likely than other racial groups to be placed on the national liver transplant list, despite having the highest mortality rate from liver disease. The investigation delved into the complex factors driving these disparities, including shortcomings in education efforts to reach transplant candidates and limited access to drug addiction treatment. The reporters faced challenges in data availability, particularly regarding racial disparities in transplant access. Gilbertson and…
Gun violence among Latinos in the United States has risen sharply in recent years, with survivors often facing steep medical bills and limited access to mental health resources. Between 2014 and 2020, the number of Hispanics killed by guns increased by 66%, compared to a 34% rise in overall gun deaths nationally, according to the Giffords organization. The impact of gun violence on Latino communities extends beyond immediate injuries, with long-lasting financial and emotional consequences. Survivors can face medical bills upwards of $200,000, and many struggle to afford follow-up care and mental health support. Cultural stigma and distrust of institutions can…
A new report from the Commonwealth Fund reveals persistent racial disparities in healthcare access, quality, and outcomes across the United States. The 2024 State Health Disparities Report highlights a sharp racial divide in premature deaths, particularly among American Indian and Black populations. The study assessed data from various racial and ethnic groups across 25 different measures, including healthcare access, quality, service utilization, and health outcomes. Even in states renowned for high-quality healthcare, such as Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Connecticut, people of color often experience significantly inferior care. Arnav Shah, coauthor of the report, pointed out that in Massachusetts, the Black population had the…
New guidelines are recommending that Black men begin prostate cancer screening as early as age 40, aiming to address stark racial disparities in diagnosis and mortality rates. The guidelines, developed by a panel of experts and presented at a recent cancer symposium, come in response to alarming statistics showing Black men are up to 110% more likely to develop prostate cancer and twice as likely to die from it compared to white men. “Early detection of prostate cancer is one of several factors that the panel believes could reduce prostate cancer morbidity and mortality in this high-risk population,” said Dr.…
A new study by UC Davis Health has uncovered significant racial and social disparities in access to a common bone marrow transplant treatment for multiple myeloma, a cancer of plasma cells. The research, published in Clinical Lymphoma, Myeloma and Leukemia, found that Black patients were less likely to receive autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (autoHCT) despite having a higher risk of developing the disease. The study analyzed data from three California health care organizations, examining autoHCT usage in patients diagnosed with myeloma between 1991 and 2016. Of the 29,109 patients studied, only 18.9% received autoHCT. Black patients, who have myeloma rates…
States with the highest American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations have the worst health system outcomes for Native peoples, according to a new study from the Commonwealth Fund. The report found significant disparities for AI/AN people, who have shorter life expectancies, higher rates of treatable diseases and chronic illnesses, and increased maternal and infant mortality compared to white and Hispanic populations. Alaska, South Dakota, Montana, Arizona and North Dakota – states with large Native populations – ranked among the lowest for AI/AN health outcomes. In Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota, Native peoples had some of the highest rates nationwide for premature…
A significant change in kidney transplant evaluation criteria has led to thousands of Black patients moving up the waitlist, addressing long-standing racial disparities in healthcare. The adjustment comes after recognizing that an outdated medical test may have inappropriately calculated the need for transplants among Black kidney patients. The previous evaluation system, which included race as a factor, was based on outdated studies assuming differences in kidney function between Black patients and other groups. This race-based score often resulted in Black patients being placed lower on the transplant waitlist. Martha Pavlakis, former chair of the kidney committee with the Organ Procurement and Transplantation…
In the quiet town of Zelienople, Pennsylvania, 9-year-old Jax Ramirez faces a daily battle against a rare autoimmune disease that threatens his life. Diagnosed with IPEX syndrome at age 6, Jax’s only hope for a cure lies in finding a matching bone marrow donor. However, his diverse genetic makeup, which includes Hispanic, Brazilian, African, and mixed European ancestry, has made this search akin to “winning the lottery,” according to his doctors.Jax’s struggle sheds light on a broader issue in the U.S. healthcare system: the stark disparities in organ and tissue donation among different racial and ethnic groups. While white patients…