Minority Health Month: Addressing Disparities Through Awareness and Action
James Grant, M.D.
| 3 min read
James D. Grant, M.D., is senior vice president and chief medical officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Dr. Grant is a native Michiganian and graduate of Wayne State University School of Medicine. He completed his post graduate training at Northwestern University Medical Center in Chicago. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Anesthesiology, completed his recertification in 2008 and is an associate examiner for the Board.
James D. Grant, M.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
There are many influences that shape each person’s health and well-being, including biological and genetic factors, health behaviors and our social and physical environment. And those influences can disproportionately affect certain ethnic, racial and marginalized communities.
For example, in 2023, Black women had a 3.5 times higher maternal death rate than white women in the United States.
It’s important for health care providers to be aware of and understand health disparities among minority populations so that we can better address them and improve the quality of and access to care.
Disparities in physical and mental health
Certain diseases and chronic conditions affect people of certain ethnic or racial groups more than others. Sometimes, these disparities are related to social determinants of health such as environmental influences or healthcare access rather than biological differences. For example, higher asthma prevalence is linked to minority populations living in areas with poor air quality. Some health disparities include:
- Asthma: Non-Hispanic Black or African American adults are more likely to have asthma than non-Hispanic whites.
- Cardiovascular disease: African Americans have higher incidence of high blood pressure compared to other racial or ethnic groups.
- Diabetes: African American and Hispanic adults are approximately twice as likely to develop diabetes as white adults.
- Infant mortality: The infant mortality rate for non-Hispanic Black or African American infants in the U.S. is 2.4 times higher than that of non-Hispanic white infants.
- Obesity: Hispanic adults and children are more likely than non-Hispanic white adults and children to have obesity.
Cultural differences that can influence health care
A person’s social, religious, language or cultural practices also influence the way they use health services. For example,
- A person’s religious or cultural customs may place more of an emphasis on alternative or holistic health and healing practices.
- A person may have a language barrier that makes it more challenging for them to explain their symptoms to a health professional or more difficult to understand treatment plans or medication instructions.
- In some cultures, there is a stigma associated with certain physical or mental health challenges, and individuals may avoid seeking help.
- In some cultures, gender preferences may affect which providers can interact with patients.
The more we understand these beliefs and practices, the better we can meet our patients where they are and fit care to their needs.
Closing the gap
In the health care community, we have many ways to address health disparities, including cultural sensitivity education for providers to learn about cultural differences and how they impact health and well-being.
Here in Michigan, we also have one of the largest patient-centered care programs in the country. Physicians across the state offer team-based, whole-person primary care that is focused on each patient’s unique needs.
Minority Health Month is an opportunity to raise awareness and understanding of the many health disparities that exist among racial, ethnic and marginalized communities. Awareness and understanding are important first steps in building cultural sensitivity.
And that helps us not only address health disparities but enables us to strengthen our healthcare system so it serves everyone.
Image: Getty Images
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