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SECTION IV. ADJUSTMENT AND ADAPTATION

  • Key Disparities: African Americans face significant health disparities relative to other groups. Disparities in health outcomes are believed to be among the largest compared to education, politics, and employment.
  • Definition of Health: Health according to the WHO is defined as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease".
    • Health Psychology: Studies how psychological factors influence health and illness.
    • Illness vs. Disease: Illness refers to poor health, while disease is a specific abnormality impacting bodily functions.

FACTORS AFFECTING THE HEALTH OF AFRICAN AMERICANS

  • General Health Outcomes: African Americans typically achieve worse health outcomes relative to other racial and ethnic groups in the U.S.
  • Socioeconomic Influences: Employment, income, and education levels significantly affect access to health care.
    • Higher unemployment rates contribute to difficulties accessing medical services.
    • The Affordable Care Act aims to improve health access starting in 2010.
  • Diversity within the Group: Health varies among African Americans due to social status, lifestyle factors, and location. Differences also exist between U.S.-born African Americans and immigrant populations.
  • Cultural and Systemic Factors: Institutional policies and cultural beliefs can hinder health outcomes. Providers may lack understanding of the African American culture, leading to lower engagement with health care systems.

HEALTH DISPARITIES

  • Healthy People 2020 Goals: Focuses on eliminating health disparities and achieving health equity.
  • Cumulative Stressors: Health disparities begin prenatally and accumulate stressors throughout life, impacting physical health.
    • Research Focus: Investigating environmental factors, racism, and the impact of products (e.g., hair care chemicals) on health.

MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY

  • Definitions: Morbidity refers to the presence of disease, while mortality is the measure of death in a population.
  • Excess Deaths: African Americans experience higher mortality rates from heart disease, strokes, and other conditions, contributing to life expectancy discrepancies between groups.
    • For African American men, heart disease mortality rates are significantly higher compared to White men.
  • Infant Mortality: Remains a significant issue with African American neonates having a rate of 8.7 per 1,000.

DISABILITY AMONG AFRICAN AMERICANS

  • Activity Limitations: Approximately 14.2% of African Americans report limitations in daily activities due to chronic health conditions, which is higher compared to other ethnic groups.

HEALTH PROMOTION AND DISEASE PREVENTION

  • Participation in Health Activities: Lower involvement in preventive measures among African Americans, only around 24.9% engage in regular physical activity.
  • Obesity Concerns: Especially among women, with over 51% of African American women over age 20 categorized as obese.

HEALTH CARE UTILIZATION PATTERNS

  • Access Issues: Factors like affordability, availability, and transportation can hinder access to health services.
  • Racial Disparities in Utilization: African Americans are less likely to have routine check-ups but more prone to use emergency services.

OTHER BARRIERS TO HEALTH CARE

  • Cultural Barriers: Miscommunication and implicit biases from healthcare providers can influence the quality of care received by African Americans.
  • Distrust in Medical Systems: Historical medical injustices contribute to a lack of trust in healthcare, influencing medical decision-making and risk behaviors.

MODELS OF HEALTH AND ILLNESS BEHAVIORS

  • Social and Psychological Models: Several established models exist to understand health behavior, including:
    • Health Belief Model
    • Theory of Planned Behavior
    • Self-efficacy Theory