NR 717 Week 6 Discussion

NR 717 Week 6 Discussion

Student Name

Chamberlain University

NR-717: Concepts in Population Health Outcomes & Health Policy

Prof. Name

Date

NR 717 Week 6 Discussion

Focus on Health Disparities in African American Communities

Health disparities persist as a significant public health concern in African American communities, particularly in underserved regions such as Jackson, Mississippi. One of the most urgent issues is the disproportionately high rate of hypertension, which often leads to heart disease. This disparity has been recognized at multiple policy levels. For instance, House Resolution 238 of the 114th Congress (introduced April 30, 2015) highlighted the goals of National Minority Health Month by focusing on inequities affecting African Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Native Hawaiians or Pacific Islanders.

Despite policy recognition, systemic inequities continue to endure. African Americans frequently encounter adverse health outcomes shaped by social determinants such as structural racism, economic hardship, and limited access to quality healthcare. Furthermore, higher rates of being uninsured compound barriers to preventive care and timely interventions (Artiga et al., 2024). These inequities not only reveal systemic weaknesses in healthcare but also illustrate the cumulative impact of historical injustices and enduring social disadvantage.

Define the Problem

Question: What is the primary problem being addressed?

The central issue addressed is the persistent health disparities affecting African Americans despite local and federal initiatives aimed at promoting equity. High rates of hypertension remain a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. While biological factors contribute to the issue, systemic barriers such as economic hardship, limited access to culturally competent care, and generational inequities reinforce these health disparities. This cyclical pattern of disadvantage hinders progress toward equitable health outcomes for African Americans.

Assemble Evidence

Question: What evidence supports this problem?

National health objectives underscore the severity of these disparities. According to Healthy People 2030 (n.d.), the prevalence of hypertension among African American adults exceeds national averages. The initiative’s goal is to reduce adult hypertension rates from a baseline of 45.0% to 41.9%, emphasizing the necessity of targeted and culturally sensitive interventions.

A systematic review by Del Pino et al. (2019) further demonstrates that ethnicity and socioeconomic conditions intersect to worsen health outcomes among Afro-descendant populations across the Americas. Structural inequities consistently contribute to poorer health indicators compared to other racial or ethnic groups.

Table 1 summarizes the main social determinants and their associated health impacts.

Determinant	Impact on Health
Poor living conditions	Increased exposure to inadequate housing and poor nutrition heightens chronic disease risks
Poverty	Limits access to preventive and primary care, leading to delayed diagnoses
Environmental exposures	Pollutants and toxins disproportionately affect African American neighborhoods
Systemic discrimination	Promotes mistrust in healthcare and reduces participation in preventive services
Community disadvantages	Restricts availability of healthcare facilities and health-promoting resources

These findings indicate that health disparities among African Americans are not merely biological but are deeply rooted in social, economic, and environmental contexts.

Develop Alternatives

Question: What alternatives can address these disparities?

Addressing these disparities requires culturally grounded and community-driven solutions. Several promising alternatives include:

• Community Health Workers (CHWs): Acting as liaisons between healthcare systems and marginalized populations, CHWs can help build trust, deliver health education, and enhance treatment adherence.

• Cultural Competency Training: Training healthcare providers to respect cultural values, communication styles, and patient preferences fosters more equitable care.

• Community-Based Programs: Partnerships between hospitals, community organizations, and faith-based institutions can provide free screenings, health fairs, and preventive education.

• Health Education Initiatives: Expanding education efforts to families and communities empowers collective participation in disease prevention.

Select Criteria to Evaluate Alternatives

Question: How can we evaluate the effectiveness of these alternatives?

The effectiveness of proposed interventions can be assessed through measurable and equitable evaluation criteria.

Criteria	Description
Efficiency	Determines whether resources are used optimally to reach target populations
Cost-effectiveness	Evaluates if the health benefits justify the program’s financial costs
Population health benefits	Assesses improvements in hypertension outcomes and general community wellness
Equity in healthcare	Measures progress toward narrowing disparities and improving access for underserved groups

These criteria ensure that interventions are sustainable, affordable, and culturally responsive while maintaining measurable outcomes.

Project Outcomes

Question: What are the expected outcomes of the selected intervention?

Expected outcomes include measurable progress in both health outcomes and healthcare equity. For instance, CHW-led programs are generally more cost-effective than physician-only approaches and have demonstrated meaningful community impact. Data collected from community-based surveys and interviews can help assess satisfaction and identify ongoing barriers to care. Moreover, expanding insurance access and implementing preventive programs are anticipated to reduce hypertension-related emergency visits and hospitalizations, ultimately helping close the gap in health disparities.

Analyze Trade-offs

Question: What trade-offs must be considered?

Implementing these interventions requires balancing affordability with comprehensiveness. While CHWs offer affordable and accessible support, they lack the specialized medical expertise of physicians. Similarly, expanding insurance coverage enhances healthcare utilization but demands significant state-level funding. Policymakers must carefully evaluate the sustainability of programs while ensuring that underserved populations receive long-term, meaningful benefits.

Make Decisions

Question: What decisions are recommended to address the problem?

The following recommendations are proposed to address persistent health inequities:

• Expand insurance access: Programs such as Medicaid expansion can improve preventive and primary care access.

• Strengthen community partnerships: Collaborations between healthcare providers and local organizations can enhance cultural sensitivity and service accessibility.

• Invest in CHWs and provider training: Building community trust and improving culturally competent care can produce long-term advancements in health equity.

Communicate Results

Question: How should the results be communicated?

Effective communication involves using trusted community platforms to disseminate results. Sharing findings through faith-based organizations, local town halls, digital platforms, and mobile health tools can ensure accessibility and inclusivity. Research supports that community-based participatory approaches, particularly when integrated with digital health interventions, significantly improve cardiovascular health outcomes in minority groups (Buis et al., 2019; Haynes et al., 2022).

References

Artiga, S., Hill, L., & Presiado, M. (2024, February 22). How present-day health disparities for Black people are linked to past policies and events. KFF. https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/issue-brief/how-present-day-health-disparities-for-black-people-are-linked-to-past-policies-and-events/

Buis, L. R., Dawood, K., Kadri, R., Dawood, R., Richardson, C. R., Djurić, Z., Sen, A., Plegue, M. A., Hutton, D., Brody, A., McNaughton, C. D., Brook, R. D., & Levy, P. D. (2019). Improving blood pressure among African Americans with hypertension using a mobile health approach (the MI-BP App): Protocol for a randomized controlled trial. JMIR Research Protocols, 8(1), e12601. https://doi.org/10.2196/12601

Del Pino, S., Sánchez-Montoya, S. B., Guzmán, J. M., Mújica, Ó. J., Gómez‐Salgado, J., & Ruíz-Frutos, C. (2019). Health inequalities amongst people of African descent in the Americas, 2005–2017: A systematic review of the literature. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(18), 3302. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16183302

Haynes, N., Kaur, A., Swain, J. D., Joseph, J. J., & Brewer, L. C. (2022). Community-based participatory research to improve cardiovascular health among U.S. racial and ethnic minority groups. Current Epidemiology Reports, 9(3), 212–221. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40471-022-00298-5

Healthy People 2030. (n.d.). Health equity in Healthy People 2030. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/health-equity-healthy-people-2030