State of Black Women's Health: The Diagnosis Remains Dismal

Experts have also found that medical bias has been a cause of health care disparities. Research by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found that Black women were less likely to have access to life-saving therapies for heart attacks than other women and less likely to be referred to methods that diagnose coronary artery disease.

"Those of us who have been dealing with health issues have known these things for a long time: that is that the quality of care of minority groups is unequal to that of the general population," says Cole. "There is bias. Built-in institutional bias."

WHAT WE DO?

Although it may seem that Black women are falling through the cracks in terms of better health, most agree there has been some progress.

"There's a general awareness of what the right thing is to do," says Cole. "We see a reduction in smoking. We know about changing our diet. We know the value of increasing our physical activity. It's just putting that knowledge into practice."

Norman says initiatives to get more people of color in the medical profession would also help to "empower Black women to be their own advocates and get the care they deserve."

Rockeymoore suggests contacting elected representatives.

"We have to engage in policy dialogue," says Rockeymoore. "We need to write our members of Congress. We have to bring this up at the community, state and federal levels. We need to do whatever it takes."

Avery, however, believes that Black women have to start with family first, by learning family history and breaking the bad habits that have been passed down from generation to generation.

"You need to know your medical history," says Avery. "Learn what you may genetically be predisposed to."

Avery's Institute for Social Change is working to reduce health disparities by educating minority communities on how to get better health information. The organization teaches women how to ask their medical practitioner about medical options and how to do their own research on the Internet.

She believes health care is a human right and calls for health care reform.

"There's no way a society can prevail without its women being healthy," says Avery. "Our health has to improve."

Kendra Lee, a Stafford, Va.,-based freelancer, writes frequently about women's health issues.

Copyright Crisis Publishing Company, Incorporated Mar/Apr 2004
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