African American Health
Every racial or ethnic group has specific health concerns. Differences in the health of groups can result from genetics, environmental factors, access to care, and cultural factors. On this page, you’ll find links to health issues that affect African-Americans.
African Americans and Kidney Disease
African Americans are nearly four times more likely than Caucasians to develop kidney failure which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant.
African Americans and Lung Disease
Smoking among African Americans is a serious problem as this population suffers disproportionately from deadly and preventable diseases associated with smoking. Compared to white Americans, African Americans are at increased risk for lung cancer even though they smoke about the same amount.
Alzheimer's Association
Alzheimer’s disease and other disorders that cause dementia know no boundaries. Many individuals and families in ethnic and cultural minority groups in the United States encounter obstacles that limit information, care and health resources. Also, many medical and care services are not designed to meet needs in diverse communities. The diversity resource materials were reviewed and recommended by leaders in research and care in ethnic and cultural minority groups.
Curriculum in Ethnogeriatrics
The Collaborative on Ethnogeriatric Education is proud to present the Ethnic Specific Modules to complement the more generic Core Curriculum in Ethnogeriatrics developed previously. The Collaborative is composed of 42 representatives of 34 Geriatric Education Centers who have worked together to design and develop the Ethnogeriatric Curriculum for health care training programs in all health care disciplines.
Immunizations and African Americans
African American adults are less likely than non-Hispanic white adults to have received the flu vaccine in the past year or to have ever received the pneumonia vaccine.