CDC Health Disparities: Prevalence of Adult Diabetes

You are part of a group of government policymakers ordered to address 1 of the 4 major health disparities outlined in the CDC’s report on health care inequalities. Read the pages in the report corresponding to one of the disparities listed below and discuss the following questions, with the ultimate aim of creating specific interventions to reduce or stop the inequality. You may choose which disparity you wish to address. Your response should be at least 350 words.
The CDC report is located within Module #10
What is the historical trend of the inequality? Has it been getting worse? What factors explain this trend?
What are some limitations to understanding and addressing the issue?
A health disparity is often merely the physical symptom of a deeply rooted structural inequality. Based on your group’s evaluation of the raw data and our discussions in class so far, what factors do you think are contributing to the phenomenon? Socio Economic issues? Geographic factors? Race? Sex? Gender? Justify your answers with specific data from the report or from historical events.
What solutions would you personally propose to address the disparity? Think beyond overly simplistic clichés such as, “provide more services” or “offer more health clinics.” Remember that there are over 300 million people living in the U.S., so significant change will occur only through systematic and comprehensive policies.
Major Disparity #1 (p. 157-160)
Non-Hispanic black adults are at least 50% more likely to die of heart disease or stroke prematurely (before age 75) than their non-Hispanic white counterparts.
Major Disparity #2 (p. 99-104)
The prevalence of adult diabetes is higher among Hispanics, non-Hispanic blacks, and those of other or mixed races than among Asians and non-Hispanic whites. Prevalence is also higher among adults without college degrees and those with lower household incomes.
Major Disparity #3 (171-175)
The infant mortality rate for non-Hispanic blacks is more than double the rate for non-Hispanic whites. Rates also vary geographically, with higher rates in the South and Midwest than in other parts of the country.
Major Disparity #4 (179-183)
Men are far more likely to commit suicide than women, regardless of age or race/ethnicity, with overall rates nearly four times those of women. For both men and women, suicide rates are highest among American Indians/Alaskan Natives and non-Hispanic whites.