North Carolina minority health facts : African Americans

North Carolina z3) Minority Health Facts Office of Minority Health and State Center for Health Statistics African Americans July 1998 African-American health status is improving, but disparities persist. African Americans1 are the second largest racial group in North Carolina. One out of every five of the state’s 7.3 million residents is Black, or about 9 out of every 10 minority residents. According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, approximately 1.6 million African Americans lived in North Carolina in 1996, compared to 1.5 million in 19903 Overall, according to Census information, African Americans in North Carolina have lower income, education and employment levels than White North Carolinians and are less likely to have health insur¬ ance, factors which can adversely affect health status. African Americans suffer higher death rates from nearly all major causes. Although the health status of the Black population in North Carolina has been improving in some areas, research shows a widening gap between Black people and White people in illness from asthma, diabetes, major infectious diseases and several forms of cancer.' African Americans often receive less, and poorer quality, health care than White Americans, so they tend to become sicker and die earlier than Whites. In addition to factors such as economic status and educational levels, researchers are finding growing evidence that race, discrimination, and social and cultural factors influence the care people receive and, consequently, their health.3 African Americans born today have a life expectancy of about 70, typically dying six or seven years earlier than White Americans. The age-adjusted death rate for North Carolina’s African Americans was slightly lower in 1996 than in 1990, but was still more than 1‘Л times the 1996 death rate for White North Carolinians. This means that, in general, African Americans in each age group are dying at higher rates than Whites in the same age groups. 1 The terms African American and Black have been used interchangeably in this report. 2 PPL- 50. U.S. Bureau of the Census. Population Division. Administrative Records and Methodology Research Branch. 3 The New York Times wire reports. January 26. 1998. 1996 NC Population Estimates by Race (percentages based on population distribution at time of 1990 U.S.Census) 1,624,260 Black 22% 93,960 American Indian White 76% 85,840 Other 1% The total estimated 1 996 NC population is 7.322.870. The Hispanic/Latino population, now estimated at 135.000 to 230.000 or more, is included primarily in the “White" and “Black" race categories. Leading Causes of Death for Black Males, 1996 Number Age-Adjusted Rate'1 00,000 Heart Disease 2,095 275.5 Cancer 1,785 241.7 Unintentional Injuries 506 69.1 Stroke 535 68.5 AIDS 430 59.4 Homicide 282 40.0 Diabetes 242 33.2 Pneumonia, Influenza 240 28.1 Leading Causes of Death for Black Females, 1996 Number Age-Adjusted Rate/100.000 Heart Disease 2,095 144.6 Cancer 1,457 125.7 Stroke 760 49.2 Diabetes 393 31.3 Unintentional Injuries 240 24.8 AIDS 140 16.2 Pneumonia, Influenza 174 11.0 Homicide 85 10.2