Organizational Affiliation: Rhode Island Department of Health
Author: William J. Waters, Jr., Joyce Coutu, Colleen Ryan, Jana Hesser, Ana Novais, and Gina Rocha.
Date: 2003
Contact Information: RI Department of Health, 3 Capitol Hill, Providence, RI, 02908-5094
Pages: 49
Content Summary
The national Healthy People 2010 initiative seeks to improve the quality of life and eliminate disparities in health and health care. This report is the adaptation of these national goals that are specifically tailored to the needs of the Rhode Island population. This report presents the baseline status and future goals on ten important health indicators. The indicators addressed in this report include: Physical activity, Overweight and Obesity, Tobacco use, Substance abuse, Responsible sexual behavior, Mental health, Injury and violence, Environmental quality, immunization, and Access to health care. The report is composed of clear analysis of each issue and equally clear presentation of the intended goals for the year 2010. Each indicator is presented with a chart to show the baseline as well as the target statistics. The report only the presents the "greatest" disparities for each health indicator. Toward the end of the report the reader is presented with sources for additional information. On pages 38-39 the reader can find the contact information for organizations in Rhode Island that are working toward addressing these health outcomes. Finally on pages 41-49 of the report there are three appendices which provide additional information including data sources, important organizations, and somewhat helpful charts. Appendix B is particularly significant because it presents many of the disparities for each health indicator in a series of charts. As with the write-up portion of the report only the previously mentioned five health indicators are presented with statistics showing racial disparities affecting minority health.
Major Findings
Racial minorities experience disparities in almost every health indicator. For Physical Activity the report suggest that Black and Hispanic adults and Hispanic adolescents experience the greatest disparities in accomplishing the proposed targets. In overweight and obesity Blacks and Hispanic adolescents experience the greatest disparities. Black adults have a higher rate of smoking than both White and Hispanic adults. In addition, for substance abuse, Black adults have higher rates than White or Hispanic adults. Conversely, Black adults have the greatest disparity for access to insurance. Blacks of all ages were also most at risk for injury and violence and poor environmental quality. These findings show that there are great racial disparities on almost every health indicator for racial minorities. Therefore, these communities must be specifically targeted in order to eliminate the disparities.
Unaddressed Issues or Concerns
This report does not describe racial disparities for many of the health indicators. In fact, racial disparities affecting racial minorities are only briefly mentioned for Physical activity, Obesity, Injury and violence, Environmental quality, and Access to health care on this chart. They are completely absent from the descriptions of the other five health indicators. A 2001 study found that there may be a link between living conditions and increased sensitization of Mexican-American and African-American children to allergens compared to white children (Stevenson 751). Therefore, environmental quality and other health indicators need to be carefully analyzed because there may be significant disparities that need to be addressed. When racial disparities are addressed in this report, blacks and/or Hispanics experience significant disparities compared to whites, however, these disparities are not explained in any relevant or helpful manner. Therefore, the write-up for this report neglects to adequately address the racial disparities that complicate the Healthy People 2010 plan. A 2000 study found that in pregnant women the greatest racial disparities occurred for women who had the lowest risk (Saftlas 418). This means that the current risk factors including socioeconomic status are not sufficient for describing and addressing racial disparities in health indicators. This report needs to include potential explanations for these racial disparities.
Reference List
Saftlas, Audrey F., Lisa M. Koonin, and Hani K. Atrash. "Racial Disparity in Pregnancy-related Mortality Associated with Livebirth: Can Established Risk Factors Explain it?" American Journal of Epidemiology. 152.5(2000): 413-419.
Stevenson, Lori A., Peter J. Gergen, Donald R. Hoover, David Rosenstreich, David M. Mannino, and Thomas D. Matte. "Sociodemographic Correlates of Indoor Allergen Sensitivity Among United States Children." Journal of Allergy Clinical Immunology. 108.5 (2001):747-52.
How to Access Report http://www.health.state.ri.us/chic/healthypeople/hri2010plan.pdf