CDC Report Shows Persistent Health Disparities In U.S.

The U.S. has not made enough progress in curbing most health care disparities, according to a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, The Hill's "Healthwatch" reports (Millman, "Healthwatch," The Hill, 1/13).

The report, which primarily focused on racial differences, detailed several disparities related to reproductive health. It found that infant mortality among children born to black women is as much three times higher than among other races. Although the teenage pregnancy rate is steady or declining for all ethnic groups, the Hispanic teen pregnancy rate is three times as high as that of whites and the rate for blacks is twice as high as that of whites.

American Indians, blacks and Hispanics have higher rates of new HIV infections than whites, while Asians have the lowest HIV rate overall. HIV rates are worsening for American Indians and blacks, CDC said (McNeil, New York Times, 1/13).

The agency noted that researchers have not collected enough evidence on the effectiveness of possible solutions for reducing the disparities. In addition, there are significant gaps in national data on disparities by disability and sexual orientation.

The report said, "Standard reporting of sexual identity/orientation or sexual behavior on national health surveys is necessary if these health inequities are to be observed and attenuated among population groups." The report recommended that future national and state surveys consistently study sexual identity, orientation and behavior ("Healthwatch," The Hill, 1/13).


Reprinted with kind permission from nationalpartnership. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families.


© 2010 National Partnership for Women & Families. All rights reserved.