------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the Feb. 7, 2002 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
NEW HEALTH FIGURES: GAP WIDENS BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE By Sharon Eolis, R.N. Health statistics in the United States somewhat improved over the last decade, but the gap between whites and people of color--African American, Latino, Native and Pacific Islanders--widened in a number of areas, according to a report, "Trends in Racial and Ethnic-Specific Rates for the Health Status Indicators: United States, 1990-1998," released Jan. 24 by the Centers for Disease Control. People from oppressed nationalities in this country have long had a greater risk of dying from diseases or other health problems than whites. This study looked at 17 health indicators, including strokes, suicides, homicides, breast cancer, tuberculosis and car accidents. The overall death rate decreased 9 percent for strokes, 15 percent for car accidents and 28 percent for homicides. In nearly all categories, there was improvement for all social groups, but the gap between nationalities widened in many areas. For example, the breast cancer death rate decreased 18 percent in white women but only 4 percent in Black women. Breast cancer screening has saved the lives of many women who have health insurance and can get early treatment. But many women of color have no health insurance or are under- insured, so they have less access to screening. They must wait weeks or months to get mammograms and follow-up care or surgical intervention for breast cancer. The rate of tuberculosis is still eight times higher for Blacks and six times higher for Latinos than for whites. In one area there has been an actual setback overall: a rise in low-birth-weight infants. In this case, a sharp increase in low-birth-weight babies among whites has actually narrowed the gap, although the rate among Blacks is still twice that of whites. In 1990, 7 percent of all babies were low birth weight. This rose to 7.6 percent by 1998, reflecting cuts in prenatal care, food pantries and welfare to young and poor women. Workers in the United States pay more for health care than anywhere else in the world but are way down the list when it comes to results. Racism, sexism and anti-gay bigotry impact medicine--and all other sciences and institutions--in a profit-driven, divide-and-conquer economic system. The only answer is a national health-care system that provides quality treatment for all. The U.S. with all its wealth and health technology could easily provide free health care for all, just as small Cuba has done with its socialist system, which has vastly improved the health of the entire population. - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) ------------------ This message is sent to you by Workers World News Service. To subscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send administrative queries to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
