Georgetown University Study Documents Racial Disparities in Health Care in DC

The Health of the African American Community in the District of Columbia copyThe Georgetown University School of Nursing and Health Studies has released a new report showing stark racial disparities in health among residents of the District of Columbia. The report was prepared for the D.C. Commission on African American Affairs.

The District is highly segregated with African Americans making up 90 percent of the population in eastern neighborhoods and 10 percent or less of the population in more prosperous areas of the city.

Here are some examples of the racial health disparities published in the report:

  • The survey found that within a 12-month period, 75,533 residents of the District were hospitalized. Blacks, who are 46 percent of the District’s population, represented 73 percent of all patients hospitalized.
  • Black men in the District have a life expectancy that is 15 years lower than for White men.
  • The infant mortality rate for Black babies is nearly six times the rate for White babies.
  • The homicide rate for Blacks is 10 times the rate for Whites.
  • Blacks are two or more times as likely as Whites to die from stroke, heart disease, diabetes complications, or prostate cancer.

BrianFloydBrian Floyd, assistant dean of academic affairs at the Georgetown University School of Nursing and Health Studies, notes that  “sharing evidence of the devastating effects of health disparities in DC, as well as offering solutions to improve health for all, was our goal. Also our hope is this report will serve as a useful tool to engage and inform local government, business and community leaders prompting them to embrace a health in-all-policies approach, essential for innovative, equity-enhancing strategic solutions.

The report, The Health of the African American Community in the District of Columbia: Disparities and Recommendations may be accessed here.

Related Articles

1 COMMENT

  1. My notion from reading this study is that the heath disparities are likely the same in every inter-city within major cities across America and food desserts in these communities coupled with other factors are what’s culpable.

Leave a Reply

Get the JBHE Weekly Bulletin

Receive our weekly email newsletter delivered to your inbox

Latest News

California State University Sacramento Launches Black Honors College

Officially launching for the fall 2024 semester, the Black Honors College will support students from all backgrounds who study Black history, life, and culture by providing them with a specialized curriculum and mentoring opportunities.

Higher Education Gifts or Grants of Interest to African Americans

Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.

In Memoriam: Norman B. Anderson, 1955-2024

Dr. Anderson was the assistant vice president for research and academic affairs at Florida State University at the time of his death. He had an extensive career in clinical psychology, which led him to become the first African American chief executive officer of the American Psychological Association.

Georgia State University Launches Program to Support Black Women in Tech

While Black women account for roughly 29 percent of the Georgia State University undergradaute student body, they represent only 10 percent of the university's computer science majors and 18 percent of the computer information systems majors.

Featured Jobs