FEMALE AFRICAN DESCENT HEALTH DISPARITIES
PRENATAL CARE
Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women. Multiple factors contribute to these disparities, such as variation in quality healthcare, underlying chronic conditions, structural racism, and implicit bias.
HEART DISEASE
Heart Disease is the No. 1 cause of death in women in the U.S. and black women have a higher risk of dying. Of black women ages 20 and older, 49% suffer from heart diseases. Cardiovascular diseases kill nearly 50,000 black women annually. Only 1 in 5 black women believes she is personally at risk.
CANCER
Black women are at greater risk than white women of developing a handful of cancers, including breast, colon/rectum, lungs and cervix. Black women have a 31% breast cancer mortality rate – the highest of any U.S. racial group. The mortality rates for cervical cancer are also higher amongst black women. This is a result of the quality of health care, and structural racism.
GET HELP
Dallas Reed, MD
Chief of Genetics, Obstetrician / Gynecologist
Tufts Medical Center
860 Washington St. Boston MA 02111
Hours 8am - 5pm
Phone Number : (617) 636-5000