Health Disparities Here at Home

We live in a great community. Hillsborough County has favorable weather, an eclectic mix of residents who contribute to rich cultural offerings and a dedication to improving our community in the future. In the spirit of improving our community, we must be happy about the positive aspects of our county but identify and face the elements within our community that are in dire need of change. It is the mission of the Health Equity Coalition Hillsborough County to identify these less than desirable elements within our community, as they relate to health, and come up with suggestions that will ultimately lead to tangible solutions to these issues. Today’s post is intended to specifically identify some of the health disparities that exist right here in Hillsborough County and the social determinants of health that accompany them. As we identify specific problems, we can work together as a coalition to propose substantial solutions.

Data that Indicates Social Determinants of Health in Hillsborough County

• Citizens living below the poverty level
  • African American residents are nearly 3 times as likely as Caucasians residents to live below the poverty line (ratio= 2.9:1)
  • Hispanic residents are almost twice as likely as Non-Hispanic residents to live below the poverty line (ratio=1.7:1)
• Citizens without high school diplomas
  • African American residents are nearly twice as likely as Caucasian residents to not have graduated high school (ratio= 1.6:1)
  • Hispanic residents are more than twice as likely as Non-Hispanic residents to not hold a high school diploma (ratio= 2.3:1)
• Unemployment rates
  • African American residents are more than twice as likely to be unemployed as Caucasian residents (ratio= 2.3:1)
  • Hispanic residents are more likely than Non-Hispanic residents to be unemployed (ratio= 1.4:1)

While there are sound arguments that link all three of these factors (education level, employment and income level), they are just some of the differences that exist amongst varying social, cultural and ethnic groups that make up the population of our community. We all live in the same county, under the same regulations, so there is no reason that these differences should exist. Furthermore these social determinants of health provide a foundation for some glaring health disparities within Hillsborough County.

Health Disparities in Hillsborough County

• Obesity-Obesity is a health epidemic nationwide that also affects the residents of Hillsborough County. Obesity is directly related to such adverse health conditions as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. Obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) that is greater than 30.
  • A 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) was conducted in a culturally diverse portion of Hillsborough County. This study compared citizens who reside in the same area yet found significant differences in obesity rates:
    • 28% of Hispanic residents were obese
    • 38% of African American residents were obese
    • 22% of Caucasian residents were obese
• Breastfeeding- Breastfeeding is the most recommended means of providing nutrients for babies. It promotes good health from the beginning of a child’s life and fosters development of the body.
  • African American mothers are significantly less likely to initiate breastfeeding than are their Caucasian counterparts (ratio=0.8:1); in fact only 59.5% of African American mothers in Hillsborough County participate in breastfeeding.
  • In May of 2010 72.2% of mothers who receive assistance from The Women Infants and Children Program initiated breastfeeding after birth. After three months only 9.9% were still breastfeeding, and after six months that figure dropped to a mere 8%.
• Access to Medical Care- Different groups of people within our county experience drastically different access to basic medical care. Not only are most medical conditions highly treatable and therefore less threatening if detected early, but access to medical care also fosters communication with medical professionals and increased awareness of best health practices.
  • African American resident are more likely than Caucasian residents to forgo trips to the dentist due to cost (ratio= 1.5:1).
  • Hispanic residents are more likely than non-Hispanic residents to forgo dental visits due to cost(ratio= 1.6:1).
  • Hispanic residents are less likely than non-Hispanic residents to have had their cholesterol checked within the past 5 years (ratio= 0.9:1).
  • African American women are nearly twice as likely not to receive any prenatal care as are Caucasian women (ratio= 1.9:1). A related figure reports that African American women are significantly more likely than Caucasian women to go into labor prematurely–after less than 37 weeks of gestation (ratio=1.5:1).
• Diabetes- Diabetes (Type II specifically) represents a definable medical disorder that often results from a lack of proper nutrition, exercise and medical care. Not only is this disorder avoidable in many cases; it is easily treated with basic medical care.
  • African American residents are more than twice as likely as Caucasian residents to die as a result of diabetes, even after the figures have been adjusted for age (ratio= 2.2:1).
  • Hispanic residents are significantly more likely than non-Hispanic residents to die as a result of diabetes, even after the figures have been adjusted for age (ratio= 1.3:1).

As you can see, there are some alarming differences among differing groups of citizens in our community. In many–if not most–instances, these citizens are neighbors in the exact same areas of Hillsborough County, yet they suffer from illness, lack of access to medical care and lack of access to information, which fosters good health at significantly different rates. It is our hope that these figures will assist you in forming a basis for establishing objectives for the Health Equity Coalition Hillsborough County.

Sources:

Information provided by Hillsborough County Health Department’s Office of Health Equity

Related Posts:

Type II Diabetes: It’s Not the Same For Everyone

The Importance of Early Medical Screenings and Check-ups