Women of color face significantly lower alcohol treatment completion rates compared to white men, according to a groundbreaking intersectional study published in Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research. The study, which analyzed 600,000 discharge records from U.S. substance use treatment facilities, found that Black, Latina, American Indian, and Native Alaskan women experience completion rates 9 to 12 percentage points lower than white men. The research, the first to examine intersectional disparities in alcohol treatment completion in the U.S., highlights the compounded effects of multiple marginalized identities. While women overall complete treatment at slightly lower rates than men, the disparities for racial…
Author: Disparity Matters
A new study reveals that living in disadvantaged neighborhoods may exacerbate age-related cognitive problems, with a more pronounced effect on Mexican Americans compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Published in JAMA Network Open, the research analyzed data from 1,614 participants aged 50 and older in the Health and Aging Brain Study — Health Disparities. The study, conducted by researchers from various institutions including the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and the University of North Texas Health Science Center, found that neighborhood disadvantage was associated with poorer performance on cognitive tests for both Mexican American and non-Hispanic White participants.…
A new study has revealed alarming disparities in stroke risk among young Black women with high blood pressure. The research, to be presented at the upcoming International Stroke Conference in Phoenix, found that Black women diagnosed with hypertension before age 35 face triple the odds of suffering a stroke compared to their counterparts without hypertension. Dr. Hugo Aparicio, lead author and professor of neurology at Boston University’s School of Medicine, emphasized the tragedy of early-onset strokes, particularly in midlife. The study analyzed data from over 59,000 participants in the Black Women’s Health Study, tracking their health over 23 years. The findings underscore…
Despite being preventable and curable, cervical cancer continues to pose a significant health threat in the United States, with about 11,500 new cases and 4,000 deaths annually. The Biden administration has announced new measures to combat the disease, including a self-testing initiative for human papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of cervical cancer. The U.S. is struggling to meet the World Health Organization’s 2030 targets for eliminating cervical cancer, with only 61.7% of teenage girls up to date on their HPV vaccine doses in 2022. Health equity issues and low vaccination rates are major obstacles, particularly affecting women in rural and low-income…
Minorities and other historically marginalized groups are significantly underrepresented in clinical research, exacerbating health disparities and limiting access to advanced medical treatments. Sarah Louden, the founder and CEO of Total Health, highlights the stark contrast between the demographic composition of the United States and the participants in clinical trials. While nearly 39% of the U.S. population consists of people of color, they only represent 2% to 16% of clinical trial participants.This gap in representation has serious implications, as noted by the National Academics of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, which states that such disparities compound health inequities with severe consequences for…
Hispanic and Black Americans are less likely to receive comprehensive biomarker testing for colorectal cancer (CRC) compared to their White counterparts, a recent study indicates. The odds of Hispanic or Latino individuals undergoing such testing were 31% lower than non-Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, while Black patients had 18% lower odds than White patients.The study, which highlights significant health disparities in the United States, underscores the need for targeted interventions to ensure equitable access to CRC screening and diagnostic services. These disparities are particularly concerning given the role of biomarker testing in guiding treatment decisions and improving patient outcomes in CRC.Colorectal…
Neighborhood environments significantly influence health outcomes and equity in the United States, a critical review reveals. The study underscores the connection between residential areas and access to public services like schools, safety, and sanitation, which are often allocated locally. Disparities in neighborhood quality exacerbate health inequalities, with poor-quality housing in disadvantaged neighborhoods posing a substantial public health issue.The review discusses the roots of neighborhood inequality and how these disparities shape health. It also examines policy responses to these challenges. Evidence suggests that interventions at the local, state, and federal levels can mitigate health risks associated with neighborhoods, particularly for racial/ethnic…
Significant disparities in alcohol treatment completion rates among women of color in the United States have been found in a groundbreaking study by the Public Health Institute’s Alcohol Research Group. The research highlights a stark contrast in the success rates between racially and ethnically minoritized women and White men. Specifically, Black, Hispanic/Latinx, American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN), and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women experience completion rates that are 12.4, 9.1, 10.3, and 4.8 percentage points lower, respectively, than their White male counterparts. This study is notable for its intersectional approach, examining the combined effects of race, ethnicity, and gender…
Black Americans have the highest cancer mortality rates in the United States, according to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health. This disparity contributes to lower life expectancy for both Black men and women compared to non-Hispanic whites. The statistics are stark across multiple types of cancer. Black men are 1.2 times more likely to develop colon cancer and 1.7 times more likely to get prostate cancer than non-Hispanic white men. They are also twice as likely to die from prostate cancer. Black women face a 40% higher mortality rate from breast…
Studied breast-cancer outcomes among African-American, Hispanic and underserved women and the factors that contribute to unequal outcomes.