Shaqona Payne

Dr. April
Interdisciplinary Studies
December 1, 2014
African American Women Health
Have you ever heard of the saying use it or you will lose it? Well, how can you lose
something that you never knew you had? For instance, how can you get proper treatment for a
disease that you never knew exist inside of you? African American women suffer from many
health issues and they lack the support of others around them. It is almost like being an outsider,
but you really not, because someone else is experiencing the same issues. The proper access to
health care restricts the quality of care that African American women receive for their health and
well-being. More than 34 percent of 45 million Americans who lack health insurance are women
of color. The reality is that they live in federally designated, underserved and underresourced communities, lack appropriate access to primary health care, and endure more chronic
illnesses and diseases that are diagnosed and treated inadequately, resulting in shortened lives
and unnecessary deaths. African American women are more likely to be low-income and have
more restricted access to job-based coverage. African American women are also more likely to
be uninsured 20% than white women. The higher rates of uninsured among women of color are
related to lower rates of job-based coverage. Barriers to receiving health care as an African
American woman of color have markedly more difficulty seeing a specialist when needed.
Quality of care continues to be a concern for many women of color. African American women
health is imperative which needs to be prompted to expand life for all African American women.
So, how can we improve the health and well-being of African American women to help prolong
life?

This research is important because in todays society more African American women are
more likely to have cancer and diseases due to the lack of health insurance, nutrition, physical
activity, and most importantly education. In fact, African American women suffers an estimated
of 85,000 excess deaths every year from diseases. We should know how to prevent health issues
such as: heart disease, stroke, cancer, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Why is this so? African
American women are labeled because of the content of their culture and not by the
characteristics of being a human being. Stats has shown that over 18% of African Americans
under 65 years are without health insurance coverage. Over 103 million people of color
[nationally] suffer disproportionately in the health care system.
African American women are more likely to have a physical condition that limits routine
activities such as participating in school or work or conducting daily housework. Over half
(57%) of African American women ages 45 to 64 have been diagnosed with hypertension, twice
the rate for white women (28%) of the same age. African American women (40%) are also
significantly more likely to have arthritis than Latinas (33%) and white women (32%).
As I conducted my research for the well-being of African American women I conducted
multiple research methods. I conducted personal interviews with over five women.
Understanding the difficulty of not being treated fairly because of the color of your skin or the
lack of insurance you have. I also conducted a survey of thirty-five African American women
that asked a series of questions pertaining to their health. I also conducted statistics from other
researcher that compared that quality of care each race received to determine the quality of each
individual well-being. With the conclusion of my gathered methods, I came to the conclusion
that the well-being of African American is not important.

As a result to my research I defined that the health care system effects the well-being of
African American women, and how they receive quality and effective health care. I have done
personal interviews with over five African American women some with insurance and some
without. For the women without health insurance they felt that their well-being was not as
important as those with health insurance. The quality of care they received did not amount to the
quality of care of the women who has insurance. They were not educated on health issues and
complications, they was not treated fairly, and the wait time to be seen by a doctor was
prolonged.
Health is a tremendous issue in the African American culture and definitely needs to be
taken seriously. Education is very important and all African American women needs to be
educated on their health and the effects it may have on their lives and others as well. For future
recommendations I highly suggest that more women get involved and form a health organization.
Some situations are beyond the control of others however each African American women can
empower one another.
Literature Review:
The Imperative is committed to ensuring that Black women receive the necessary information
and skills in order to reduce their personal risk for any disease or health complications. Through
health education programs and advocacy efforts, the healthcare system that needs to improve
health outcomes for all black women. The Black Womens Health Imperative is committed to
ending diseases and health disparities among Black women by Educating Black women about
the different symptoms of disease that women experience so that they are more likely to receive
timely diagnosis and treatment connecting black women to the health care delivery system in
order to receive important routine medical care Promoting preventative and diagnostic screening
as an essential benefit in health care reform will help illuminate some of these health issues.

Black women needs to learn the risk factors and the symptoms of disease. In ordered to lesson
chances of health complications black women needs to eat well-balanced meals that are low in
fat and cholesterol and include several daily servings of fruits and vegetables. Also engage in at
least 30 minutes of a moderate-intensity activity such as brisk walking or another activity that
you enjoy such as dancing at least five days a week. If you need to, divide the period into shorter
timeframes of at least 10 minutes each. The health care system still play a tremendous roll in the
effects of African American women health. However it is also important for all African American
women educate themselves on how to better their health when money becomes an issue.

Work Cited
"Heart Disease and Black Women: The Silent Killer That Speaks Volumes."Black
Women's Health Imperative -.
"Minority Women's Health." African-Americans
"African American Women's Health | NCNW | Health." African American Women's Health |
NCNW | Health.
"African American Women's Health | NCNW | Health." African American Women's Health |
NCNW | Health.
Websites
http://www.bwhi.org/issues/healthcare/access-to-healthcare/
http://mhrc.dopm.uab.edu/resources_new/Racial-disparities-in-Women.pdf