So You Think You Know Minority Health?
Resource Center
Below you will find the questions, answers, and resources used for So You Think You Know Minority Health? Click on any of the questions below for additional information.
Dude, Where's My Care?
| Q1) People of color, who make up 35 percent of the U.S. population, make up what share of the nation’s 46.3 million uninsured? |
[−] |
| Q2) 32.1% of Latinos are uninsured. Which other racial or ethnic group is most likely to be uninsured? |
[−] |
|
Q3) Some of the highest rates of emergency room use in the country are in areas with the greatest numbers of uninsured, Latino, and immigrant residents. True or False? |
[−] |
| Q4) According to the most recent data, which two minority groups are more likely to report having communication problems with their doctors? |
[−] |
Answer: African Americans and AsiansIn 2005, about 13 percent of African Americans and Asians reported communication problems with their doctors, compared with 9 percent of whites. Proper communication allows for good health care to be delivered and received. Providers are more likely to understand patients’ needs and preferences, and patients are more likely to take an active role in their health care. Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Minorities, Poor Find Communicating with Doctors More Difficult
Debate and Legislate
| Q1) Which federal agency monitors the nation’s progress toward eliminating disparities in health care? |
[−] |
Answer: AHRQThe Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) releases a yearly “National Healthcare Disparities Report” that measures and documents disparities between whites and racial and ethnic minorities. Source: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), 2008 National Healthcare Disparities Report
| Q2)The health insurance program, Medicaid, is available to all low-income people. True or False? |
[−] |
Answer: FalseAlthough Medicaid provides a safety net for low-income people, there are significant gaps in eligibility for Medicaid. Across the country, Medicaid eligibility levels vary by state. The national median eligibility level for parents is 67% of the poverty level ($12,268 for a family of three). Currently, Medicaid restricts eligibility to low-income children, pregnant women, parents with dependent children, people with disabilities, and seniors. If a person does not fall into one of those categories, he or she can literally be penniless and still be ineligible for Medicaid. Health care reform proposals of 2009 present the opportunity to expand coverage to 150% of the poverty level ($33,075 for a family of four) across all 50 states. Today, more than half of the uninsured individuals at this income level are people of color. A Medicaid expansion will help close the gaps in the health care access and reduce the disparities in coverage by expanding Medicaid so it will serve all low-income people. Source: Covering the Uninsured in Medicaid and Health Reform and Communities of Color: How Might it Affect Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities?
| Q3) Racial and ethnic minorities make up what percentage of Medicare enrollees? |
[−] |
| Q4) When was the last major piece of federal minority health legislation passed? |
[−] |
Answer: 2000The Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and Education Act was passed in 2000. This legislation led to the creation of the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It also authorized the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to conduct health disparities research and issue annual reports, and it authorized the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to support projects that train health care professionals on reducing health care disparities. Source: National Conference of State Legislatures, Health Acts 2000: Summary Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and Education Act of 2000
Trick or Treat?
| Q1) American Indian/Alaskan Native women are the least likely group to have had a mammogram. True or False? |
[−] |
Answer: FalseIn 2005, 72.8% of American Indian/Alaskan Native women had had mammograms within the last two years compared to 67.4% of whites, 64.9% of African Americans, 58.8% of Latinos, and 54.6% of Asians. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mammography: Mammography Percentages by Race and Ethnicity
| Q2) African American women are how much more likely to die during childbirth than white women? |
[−] |
Answer: Four timesAfrican American women are nearly four times more likely to die during childbirth than white women, chiefly due to inadequate prenatal care and a higher incidence of complications. A number of studies have shown that at least 40% of maternal deaths could have been prevented with improved quality of care. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics Report, Deaths: Final Data for 2006
| Q3) Which two racial and ethnic groups are more likely to die from complications in the hospital? |
[−] |
Answer: Asians and Native Hawaiian/Pacific IslandersAsians and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders are 16% more likely than whites to die from serious, but treatable, complications in the hospital. Racial and ethnic groups experience these increased rates of complications for several reasons, including being sicker in the first place, receiving care in lower-quality hospitals, and having trouble communicating with doctors and nurses due to cultural and linguistic barriers. Source: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Asian-Pacific Islanders Most Likely to Die from Serious, but Treatable, Hospital Complications: AHRQ News and Numbers
| Q4) If we could reduce the death rate for African Americans to the same level as whites, how many African American deaths would be prevented in one year? |
[−] |
Feeling Groovy--or Not
| Q1) Which racial or ethnic group has the highest rate of asthma? |
[−] |
Answer: American Indians and Alaska NativesAmerican Indians and Alaska Natives have the highest rate of asthma. Among American Indians and Alaska Natives, 12.1% have been diagnosed with asthma, compared to 11.3% of African Americans, 10.9% of whites, 8.4% of Latinos, and 8.1% of Asians. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Asthma Prevalence
| Q2) In 2007, which racial or ethnic group had an AIDS rate that was nearly 10 times higher than whites? |
[−] |
Answer: African AmericansIn 2007, the AIDS rate was almost 10 times higher for African Americans (59.2%) than for whites (6.1%). Among women, the disparity was astonishing: the AIDS rate for African American women was nearly 22 times higher than for white women. That year African American women accounted for 66% of new AIDS cases among women compared to only 17% of white women. Source: Kaiser Family Foundation, Black Americans and HIV/AIDS and Women and HIV/AIDS in the U.S.
| Q3) What racial or ethnic group has the highest rate of liver cancer? |
[−] |
Answer: Asian Americans and Pacific IslandersAsian Americans and Pacific Islanders have a higher rate of liver cancer than any other racial or ethnic group. These populations are over 2.5 times more likely to have liver cancer than their white counterparts. 80% of liver cancer cases are caused by chronic Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection. Source: American Cancer Society, Cancer Incidence and Mortality Rates by Site, Race, and Ethnicity, US, 2001 – 2005
| Q4) Among low-income, preschool-aged children, Latino children are most likely to be obese. True or False? |
[−] |
Answer: FalseIn 2008, the prevalence of obesity was highest among American Indian or Alaska Native (21.2%) and Latino (18.5%) children and lowest among white (12.6%), Asian or Pacific Islander (12.3%), and African American (11.8%) children. American Indians and Alaska Natives were the only racial or ethnic group with increasing rates of childhood obesity between 2003 and 2008. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Obesity Prevalence Among Low-Income, Preschool-Aged Children 1998 – 2008
The "X" Factor
| Q1) Detroit is the 11th largest city in the U.S., and almost 88% of its population belongs to a racial or ethnic group. How many full chain supermarkets are located in the city of Detroit? |
[−] |
Answer: 0Although Detroit is home to over 900,000 residents, no national grocery chain operates a store in Detroit. Nearly 82% of Detroit’s residents are African American while only 12.3% are white. The last two mainstream grocery stores closed their doors in 2007, leaving many of Detroit’s residents with limited access to healthy food choices within the city. Source: Wall Street Journal, Retailers Head for Exits in Detroit
| Q2) Recent Latino immigrants are healthier than those who have been in the U.S. longer. True or False? |
[−] |
| Q3) Which of the following factors contribute to heart disease in America: Family history, racism, poor diet, or all of the above? |
[−] |
Answer: All of the aboveFamily history, racism, and poor diet all contribute to heart disease in America. While family history and poor diet may seem obvious, racism has also been linked to heart disease. Several studies have shown a link between perceived discrimination and increased plaque in carotid arteries, an early sign of heart disease. Racism acts as a chronic stressor, setting off high blood pressure, elevating the heart rate, and lowering immunity. Ironically, in the U.S., wealthier African Americans suffer from more health problems than some of the poorest whites. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Heart-Healthy and Stroke-Free: A Social Environment Handbook
| Q4) People of color are more likely to live in walkable communities. True or False? |
[−] |
Answer: TrueMinority groups are more likely to live in urban, walkable communities than non-minority groups. A walkable community has accessible sidewalks and allows people to reach destinations by foot. Despite being more likely to walk for transportation, minority groups are less likely to be active overall, primarily because of lower levels of vigorous activity and limited use of, and access to, biking trails, walking trails, and open spaces. Source: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Built Environment and Physical Activity: What is the Relationship?
Final Question
| Q) The American population is becoming more diverse; the “minority” is expected to become the “majority” in what year? |
[−] |
Final Answer: 2042Today, more than one in three Americans identifies him- or herself as African American, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, or other Pacific Islander. Together, these groups make up the “minority.” If we do not address racial and health inequities, the economic and health consequences for the nation will grow even more dire. Source: Families USA, Health Coverage in Communities of Color: Talking about the New Census Numbers
Additional Resources
|
|
