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Columbus State Community College *

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Health Science

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Oct 30, 2023

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The white paper All Health is Connected , written by the American Public Health Association, elaborates upon and demonstrates the varying health disparities that are present in society, particularly for men. The central claim that is presented is that there are vast disparities in men’s health care, and some of these disparities are rooted in socioeconomic barriers that primarily affect the black community on a larger scale than the white community. The overall objective of this white paper seems to be to reduce these disparities by finding ways of reaching out to the black community and introducing more of the community into the healthcare system, primarily black men. This endeavor is meant to achieve health equity, which is defined as, “attainment of the highest level of health for all people…” (APHA, n.d.). The APHA suggests throughout this white paper that their solution to reducing the disparity in healthcare in the community is to engage and involve men of color during their and their partner’s preconception, prenatal, and postnatal care. Their hope is that early involvement with healthcare for black families will result in, “…healthier families, healthier infants, and healthier boys of color that will grow up to be healthier men” (APHA, n.d.). The APHA cites several statistical data points as reasonings for their overall claim and evidence to support their standpoint on the subject. The paper indicates that the rate of uninsured black Americans overall dropped from 21% in 2013 to 13% in 2016, and in 2014, the disparity in uninsurance between black and white men was 6.6 percentage points. (APHA, n.d.). This decrease was seen as a major health risk, considering that black Americans experience disproportionately higher burdens of heart disease, diabetes, asthma, cancer, and HIV/AIDS than white Americans. Black men are 30 percent more likely to die from heart disease and 60 percent more likely to die from stroke than white men, and the life expectancy for black men at birth was more than four years shorter than white men in 2015 (APHA, n.d.). “Black men accounted for nearly one-third of all U.S. HIV diagnosis in 2015, a rate nearly eight times higher as that for white men and more than twice that of Hispanic men. For all cancers combined, the death rate was 24 percent higher for black men than for white men” (APHA, n.d.). These statistical data points demonstrate the disproportionate health risks for black and white Americans, as well as demonstrate the importance for increasing the percentage of black Americans that have a usual source of health care. The paper goes on to discuss a study that was done in 2014-2015, that indicates that nearly 40 percent of black men lacked a usual source of care. The study also found that the disclosure of the 1972 Tuskegee syphilis study was correlated with increased mistrust and mortality as well as decreases in outpatient and inpatient interactions (APHA, n.d.). This mistrust along with the disparities in health risks are assumed to be the main sources for the disparities in health care and treatment amongst black and white men. The paper discusses a few systemic barriers that may also be linked to such decreases in healthcare amongst the black community, such as the recorded 13 percent more black Americans living in poverty than white Americans in 2016, or black Americans facing a higher rate of housing instability and food insecurity (APHA, n.d.). The growing mistrust, disparity in treatment, and systemic barriers are all claimed to be reasons why such disparities in healthcare exist. The central objective of this paper is to find ways to reach out to the community and involve black men in healthcare from an early stage so that they may secure a medical home of their own and continue to adhere to one in the future

through a sort of domino effect. If the kids are introduced to healthcare in adolescence, it is hopeful that it will become a normality and common practice within future generations, thus lowering the disparity of healthcare between black and white Americans over time. The statistical data offered within this paper demonstrates the risk related to these dropping rates at which black Americans are receiving proper healthcare and provides evidence for the healthcare disparities within the two communities. The reasoning employed in this paper is very similar to what you would expect to see within other genres. Statistics and statistical data are one of the most effective ways of accurately presenting data of a wide range or scale, allowing us readers to understand topics that are outside our scope. The data shows the drastic health risk differences between the two communities and is something that would be difficult to fully comprehend if not presented with raw real-world data in this format. Other genres or studies employ similar tactics to stress issues or represent a more realistic view of the current state of the topic. This strategy is effective in the sense that it shows the reality of the situation and is convincing to those who may not be able to see outside of their own personal experience or personal views. Some individuals would maybe not believe that the disparities are this drastic when they are, and showing the statistics allows a more general and global perspective to take root. This is very effective when pushing for an agenda regarding a topic that is not generally known by the public or as focused upon as it may need to be. This approach is meant to spark change in the field of healthcare, as well as society with the important endeavor of attaining better healthcare and treatment for all people and reducing the disparity at which this is achieved for all communities.

References APHA. (n.d.). Can Leveraging Women’s Health Care Help Narrow Gaps in Black Men’s Health? [White Paper]. All Health is Connected. https://www.apha.org/-/media/Files/PDF/topics/All_Health_is_Connected.ashx

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