Create a conceptual map that demonstrates how one of the social determinants of health works in exacerbating health disparities/inequities in the AA subpopulation you selected for your project.
Create a conceptual map that demonstrates how one of the social determinants of health works in exacerbating health disparities/inequities in the AA subpopulation you selected for your project. (Refer to Figure 6 of the Braveman & Gottlieb (2014) article). Then, briefly identify what can be done or has been done (i.e., interventions) at each level of the Socio-Ecological Model (SEM) to address inequities in the pathway you identified. The Community Guide website will be helpful to you as you identify potential interventions to address your health issue. You should write at least 2 sentences for each level. Please ensure that you identify your AA subpopulation in your image and narrative.
https://www.thecommunityguide.org/
Requirements: 250 words
Hypertension Prevalence among African American Adults in Mississippi
Tekeyia Haynes
Dr. E. Haynes
Edward Waters University
HSC 2620
September 20, 2023
Hypertension Prevalence among African American Adults in Mississippi
Health Disparity or Inequity?
Cases of hypertension in Mississippi are disproportionately higher among African Americans than other racial groups. This disproportionate prevalence among African Americans amounts to a health disparity. Ndugga & Artiga (2023) define health disparity as observable health patterns among different populations where a specific health outcome is high or low for a specific group. This definition shows that the disproportional hypertension prevalence in Mississippi is a health disparity, not an equity issue. In 2021, the prevalence rate of hypertension in the state was 36.3% higher than the national average. However, the prevalence was 14.8% higher among African Americans than whites (Office of Health Surveillance and Research, 2023).
There is an intricate relationship between health disparity and inequity. Health inequity occurs when the opportunity to be healthy is unfair or unjust to specific populations (Ndugga & Artiga, 2023). Social determinants of health are key drivers of health equity or inequity. There is a close relationship between these social determinants of health and the prevalence of hypertension. For example, in 2021, about 51% of Mississippi households with an annual income below $15,000 experienced hypertension. Meanwhile, between 2011 to 2021, the prevalence of hypertension among people whose educational level was below high school increased by over 36%, higher than the opposite group (Office of Health Surveillance and Research, 2023). African Americans form the bulk of low-socioeconomic status communities in Mississippi. These characteristics occur primarily because decades of systemic racism hamper African Americans’ socioeconomic empowerment and mobility. Therefore, although the disproportionate prevalence of hypertension among blacks in Mississippi is a health disparity issue, the disparity is caused by deeply rooted inequities.
Comparing Historical Trends Between African Americans and the General Population
Mississippi is one of the states most affected by hypertension. Between 2011 and 2021, the prevalence of the condition in Mississippi exceeded the national average yearly, with African Americans being the most affected (Office of Health Surveillance and Research, 2023). This observation aligns with patterns witnessed in the previous decade before 2011-2021. A study by Mendy et al. (2021) found that the age-adjusted mortality rate for hypertension in Mississippi was higher among blacks than whites between 2000 and 2018. The study identified obesity and racial discrimination as primary factors driving hypertension mortality rates. For example, obesity rates among blacks in Mississippi increased steadily between 2000 to 2010 by approximately 1.9% annually. In 2018, the rate of obesity in Mississippi was 45.7% among African Americans and 36.2% among whites (Mendy et al., 2021). As a result of sustained racial discrimination, African Americans in Mississippi struggle to access quality healthcare and resources. This situation increases their vulnerability to lifestyle to obesity and other lifestyle diseases and elevates their risks of having hypertension.
The persistent disparities in hypertension along ethnic lines in Mississippi mirror trends in the national population. Since early 2000, the US has seen significant improvements in blood pressure (BP) control among the general patient population. However, non-Hispanic black adults have seen little improvement in controlled BP over the same period (Muntner et al., 2020). Despite improvements in hypertension treatment, this little progress suggests that broader socioeconomic factors influence African Americans’ disproportionately high prevalence rates. The recent COVID-19 pandemic further demonstrated the extent of hypertension disparities in the country. During the pandemic, hospitals reported increased cases of hypertension among hospitalized patients (Muntner et al., 2020). African Americans were disproportionately affected by the pandemic and likely reported higher cases of hypertension than other races.
References
Mendy, V. L., Rowell-Cunsolo, T., Bellerose, M., Vargas, R., Zhang, L., & Enkhmaa, B. (2021). Temporal trends in hypertension death rate in Mississippi, 2000–2018. American Journal of Hypertension, 34(9), 956-962. Doi:
Muntner, P., Hardy, S. T., Fine, L. J., Jaeger, B. C., Wozniak, G., Levitan, E. B., & Colantonio, L. D. (2020). Trends in blood pressure control among US adults with hypertension, 1999-2000 to 2017-2018. Jama, 324(12), 1190-1200. Doi:
Ndugga, N., & Artiga, S. (2023, April). Disparities in health and health care: 5 key questions and answers. Kaiser Family Foundation.
Office of Health Surveillance and Research. (2023, January). Hypertension prevalence, Mississippi – 2021. Mississippi State Department of Health.
Hypertension Disparity Among African American Adults in Mississippi
Tekeyia Haynes
Edward Waters University
HSC 2620
Dr. E. Haynes
August 31, 2023
Hypertension Disparity Among African American Adults in Mississippi
Health Issue Description
Hypertension, a chronic medical disorder that raises blood pressure, is also called a “silent killer” because it often goes undiagnosed until it causes heart disease, stroke, and kidney damage. It is sneaky because its negative effects are typically overlooked until too late. Genetic predisposition, bad lifestyle choices, and medical problems are major causes of hypertension. This unrelenting illness requires attention for its stealthy onset and propensity to cause catastrophic health implications. The health condition usually develops gradually due to genetic and environmental factors. This health issue is often tarnished by harmful lifestyle choices like overeating sodium-laden and processed meals, being sedentary, and drinking too much. Chronic stress and a family history of hypertension increase the risk of this ailment in this complex interaction. Thus, genetics, environment, and lifestyle weave the story of hypertension. This condition can damage blood arteries, causing atherosclerosis, heart attacks, strokes, kidney problems, etc. Uncontrolled hypertension leads to disability, lower quality of life, and faster death. Hypertension strains the heart and blood arteries, threatening cardiac failure and the brain’s delicate vascular system, which could lead to cognitive deterioration.
African Americans are disproportionately affected by hypertension. This demographic group has an alarmingly greater rate of this illness than whites. Their risk of getting hypertension early in life and its severe health consequences make them vulnerable. Socioeconomic gaps, inadequate healthcare resources, and systematic racism maintain these discrepancies. This alarming reality highlights the need to address hypertension’s physiological causes and systemic inequalities.
Subpopulation
The state of Mississippi has 38% African Americans. However, this demographic has a disproportionate burden of hypertension, with higher frequency, earlier disease onset, and higher disease severity than whites. Mississippi African-American adults are susceptible to hypertension due to a combination of variables. These include a genetic predisposition, socioeconomic inequality, limited access to basic healthcare, and an increased risk of obesity and other chronic diseases. Historic racism and systematic bias exacerbate these issues by causing stress-related health issues. Mississippi African-American individuals have a higher risk of hypertension due to a complex interaction of factors (Forde et al., 2020.p.721). Poverty is one of the biggest variables affecting health, which limits access to excellent resources. The lack of educational opportunities and understanding of healthy lifestyles and preventive actions worsens the problem. Without appropriate health insurance, prompt medical interventions are impossible.
Food insecurity, which disproportionately affects African Americans, compounds these issues. Some neighborhoods lack fresh, nutrient-rich foods, making it harder for individuals to eat a balanced diet and accelerating hypertension. Lack of safe recreational venues and physical activity promotes a sedentary lifestyle that worsens the illness. A comprehensive approach is needed to address this widespread health discrepancy. Multilevel treatments are needed to address the problem’s complexity. Poverty reduction and education improvements would help create a more knowledgeable and health-conscious population.
More accessible healthcare through policy changes and community-based clinics could reduce hypertension and its effects. Fighting food insecurity involves multiple approaches. This involves promoting fair availability of nutritious foods across neighborhoods to eliminate hypertension-causing dietary disparities. Community gardens and farmers’ markets can also empower residents to make healthier food choices. Urban planning should also prioritize safe parks and recreational areas to promote physical exercise and reduce hypertension-causing sedentary behavior. This effort also requires acknowledging systematic racism’s long history. Acknowledging historical injustices and promoting social equity can reduce stress-related health issues. Mental health, stress management, and coping initiatives can help African-American communities recover from historical trauma.
Area of Focus: Mississippi
The Mississippi African-American community has a rich cultural tradition in this complex environment. However, the complex social determinants of health disproportionately affect this community. Meanwhile, economic barriers hinder Mississippians efforts to live healthy, vibrant lives. As this health issue unfolds, structural disparities are the main players. This stage is filled with constraints that limit healthcare, education, and social mobility. These factors create a somber symphony explaining Mississippi’s increased hypertension among African Americans. The absence of preventative treatment, routine screenings, and culturally sensitive healthcare resources fuels health inequality to dangerous levels. Mississippi represents a split healthcare landscape. Despite its variety, the state struggles to provide equitable healthcare for people. African Americans face a tortuous journey to substandard healthcare facilities, if any. This geographical contradiction is just one of these communities’ many problems.
Economic constraints on healthy lifestyles exacerbate the problem. Financial constraints prevent access to healthy food, exercise, and wellness. This puts a longer shadow on individuals’ ability to prevent hypertension. Reverberations of racial segregation enrich the narrative. This historical undercurrent has haunted Mississippians for centuries. Stifled education increases health inequities by preventing knowledge. The current state of affairs is a complex tapestry constructed from difficulties due to inequality’s history. The greater hypertension rate in African-American adults shows the grave consequences of this convergence of circumstances—the actors—unmet healthcare requirements, educational constraints, and economic hardships—dance in a health crisis. The lack of preventative actions exacerbates the disparities, creating a crescendo of concern that permeates individuals affected by this health disparity.
In conclusion, the considerable differential in high blood pressure among African-American adults in Mississippi is an urgent public health issue that requires extensive and precise management efforts. This demographic’s hypertension prevalence can be reduced by addressing its root causes, including systemic prejudices, socioeconomic factors, and medical care barriers. To reduce hypertension in this subgroup, these factors are crucial. Implementing local community activities, improving healthcare accessibility, and raising awareness of health-conscious decisions can help achieve health parity. Doing so reduces hypertension’s negative effects on Mississippi’s African-American population, promoting health equity.
References
Glover, L. M., Cain-Shields, L. R., Wyatt, S. B., Gebreab, S. Y., Diez-Roux, A. V., & Sims, M. (2020). Life course socioeconomic status and hypertension in African American adults: the Jackson Heart Study. American Journal of Hypertension, 33(1), 84-91.
Forde, A. T., Sims, M., Muntner, P., Lewis, T., Onwuka, A., Moore, K., & Diez Roux, A. V. (2020). Discrimination and hypertension risk among African Americans in the Jackson Heart Study. Hypertension, 76(3), 715-723.
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