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Health Disparity: Another "Polite" Term for Institutional Racism in Action

      Health disparity experienced by Nubians/Indigenous people/Afrikan in the Diaspora is a massive problem.  Health disparity as defined by the Department of Health and Human Services is a condition of being unequal; lack of equality and equity of health care. Although there are   so-called laws prohibiting racial discrimination and health professionals are guided by codes of conduct that discourage unequal treatment, the living breathing monster of institutional racism exist despite the do not harm pledge.  Some organizations define institutional racism as race prejudice and power embedded into the culture of an organization and manifested through decisions and biases that lead to negative outcomes for individuals of color. While others describe institutional racism as a sickness that effects education, health, employment, birth, early childhood and a general oppressed lifestyle.

Racial/ethnic health disparities have existed for many centuries. There are several studies that highlight the expansiveness of racial/ethnic health disparities, but still the disparities persist.  Many articles have been written about the factors that contribute to the health disparities. Some of those articles point to one cause of the health disparities: low income as a result of socioeconomic factors such as lack of education, unemployment or underemployment. The low income makes it difficult to obtain high quality health care.

Another cause is cultural and communication barriers. I use the terms “cultural” and “communication” because these behaviors are learned, and the cultural myths and stereotyping prevent the delivery of decent health care. An example of cultural barrier is a physician seeing a young black man in the emergency room with a gunshot wound. Immediately without any evidence, the young man is treated and talked to and about as if he was a low life person, and the assumption is made that he is a member of a violent gang.  No compassion or comfort is offered. The young man could have actually been a victim of what is termed “random violence,” not a member of a gang.  The behaviors are so subtle and often unconscious that the communication is a detriment to Nubians/Indigenous people/Afrikan in the Diaspora patients and their families receiving equity in health care. Recently a group of interns and residents in a teaching hospital were overheard laughing and using the term HONDA to describe  Nubian patients.  It was later discovered that the word was code for hypertensive, obese, Negroid  diabetic, with asthma.  Although some folks may say well a large number of Nubians are hypertensive, obese, have diabetes and asthma. However,  those folks fail to understand the depth of these conditions and how poorly our people are regarded and treated and how disrespectful it is for any people to be catagorized as a HONDA,

The underling and disturbing cause for the health disparities goes beyond pervasive racism and racist behaviors among institutions and health care providers exhibited toward Nubians/Indigenous people/ Afrikan in the Diaspora. In fact allopathic/medical system is based on greed and in many cases mis-education  An another example of the lack of decent treatment is an elderly black man goes to the doctor and needs in-depth cardiac care. However, as a professional nurse I have witnessed a medical doctor, instead of recommending the best solution for the elderly black man, questions him extensively about insurance coverage and then just given a series of prescriptions. Whereas a white man / European with the same cardiac challenge regardless of his insurance coverage would receive information and choices which include invasive procedures that are associated with a higher level of health care. As a nurse / wholistic health practitioner I also witnessed the blatant racism in the care of women in the various maternity clinics. Pregnant Nubians/Indigenous people/Afrikan in the Diaspora were not given the time or full information in terms of the best way to care for themselves during pregnancy, nor did they receive the best information in terms of preparing for their deliveries. Now today in the health community we are witnessing increased deaths due to breast cancer in women and for those who seek help, although there is much discussion about detection there is still very little about prevention and even more unequal treatment in the care of women who do have breast cancer. The same picture of receiving less than the best care can be seen when it comes to our children and our elderly.

According the office of Center for Disease Control and Prevention, for Blacks in the United States health disparities means decreased quality of life and even premature deaths for Nubians/Indigenous people/Afrikan in the Diaspora.  The growing numbers of maternal and infant morality among Nubians/Indigenous people/Afrikan in the Diaspora are the effects that result from long standing health disparities (active racism and/or well-conceived genocide). The consequences of Nubians/Indigenous people/Afrikan in the Diaspora families experiencing this health disparity problem are displayed in a ripple effect--unequal access to health insurance; poor follow-up with appropriate healthcare; more illness-absence from work; loss of income-increased stress-decreased access to health care; more illness--and so the cycle continues eventually ending in chronic health problems or even early death.

Another effect of health disparity is the search for relief of stress or pain and thus the increased intake of alcohol, drugs, and other body and mind numbing substances. There are studies that indicate delayed developmental growth of young Nubians/Indigenous people/Afrikan in the Diaspora is another possible effect resulting from massive health disparities.

Since the massive problem of health disparity has been so long standing, the resolutions will not be a simple matter.  To promote consistency in progress toward eliminating health disparities, the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) had developed a program called Healthy People 2010, designed to identify the most significant preventable threats to health and to establish national goals to reduce these threats. According to DHHS this program was geared toward increasing the quality and years of healthy life, and the elimination of racial and ethnic disparities in health status. Now it is 2011 and another ugly predator rises its head on health front under the disguise of sex education and prevention of the spread of sexually transmitted disease(STDs) now we are faced with the increased of deadly vaccinations and legislators who are trying to make it mandatory for our children without parents’ consent or knowledge.

Time for polite discussions, grant-driven research and endless university studies is over. Proposals and cries to have more cultural sensitivity training for existing health care providers with special attention given to the subtle racist behaviors and attitudes is also not enough to undo the damage and to prevent further genocide.  Nor will infusing more Nubians/Indigenous people/Afrikan in the Diaspora health care providers on all levels of the country’s present and still failing health care system be sufficient. What is desperately needed is more awareness of the treacherous policies and programs and large groups of people standing up and saying enough is enough. Those brothers and sisters who have healing expertise could come together and collectively create wellness centers is our communities to fill in the gap of decent health care for our people instead of waiting for a total  restructuring the present health care system happens.

References

Afrika, L. (1993), Nutricide: the nutritional destruction of the black race.

A&B Publishers Group, NY

Carter-Pokras, O. and Baquet, C. (2002). What is a “health disparity?” Viewpoint  

       Public Health Reports, Retrieved November 18, 2006.

      http://www.publichealthreports.org/userfiles/117_5/117426.pdf

Gerberding, J.L. (2005). Health disparities experienced by blacks or African Americans--

United States, CDC: MMWR Weekly. Retrieved November 13, 2006.

      http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5401a1.htm

Shalala, D. & Satcher, D. (2000) Healthy people 2010 initiative to guide prevention agenda for the next ten years: "Leading Health Indicators" Unveiled, HHS News. Retrieved

      November 18,  2006. http://www.health.gov/partnerships/Media/12500pr.htm

SuZar, E.(2006). Drugs Masquerading As Foods. A-Kar productions: Phoenix, AZ