Minority Health

Chronic diseases can disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minorities, including individuals from lower socioeconomic classes, women and children, and may affect these individuals’ ability to attain and maintain health. Children are especially vulnerable and often have multiple risk factors for poor health. Recent U.S. census data show that in some parts of North Carolina, more than 30 % of children live in poverty and there are more poor children than in any other segment of population. Moreover, the population of children is becoming increasingly more ethnically and racially diverse and rates of uninsured health insurance are among the highest for these groups.

The association between poverty, health status, race, ethnicity, insurance status, and access to good quality of health care, or any health care, is well documented. For example, the infant mortality rate for African American infants is 2.5 times higher than for white infants. Black and Hispanic children are less likely to receive preventive services including dental care, emotional counseling and diet management; and, poverty and minority race/ethnicity are associated with increased risk for childhood chronic and disabling diseases. Hospitalization for asthma is 40-100% more likely for minority children compared to other children.

NCSJP is developing programs to monitor and research disparate health outcomes and attempt to combat the causes in North Carolina.