Examples of health care disparities

I recently stumbled on the website for the Center for Health Equity Research and Promotions Collaborations (CHERP) and found a number of disturbing examples of health disparities. Here's a quick reference sheet that you can use when talking about the social determinants of health. Of course, it's up to you to check and double check your facts!
Examples of Health Disparities

  • In the U.S., African-Americans do not live as long as Caucasians.
  • In general, women live longer than men.
  • People with more education are less likely to die from contagious diseases. (US citizens who have not finished high school are more than 4 times as likely to die from contagious diseases than those citizens who have gone to college.)
  • American Indians and Alaskan Native People born today in the U.S. will live five years less than people of any other racial/ethnic group.
  • Poor people are more likely to go without needed medical care.
  • In comparison to Caucasians, Asians, African Americans and Hispanics are less likely to have a regular doctor. 
  • African American veterans are less likely to receive surgery as a treatment for heart attack.

These are just the tip of the iceberg.
If you have more examples of health disparities, please respond in the comment.

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