These myths still have an impact today. In a previous study, Black children with appendicitis were less likely to receive appropriate pain medication than white children. The same was true in research on people with recurring cancer. ADVERTISEMENTCheck your vitamin levels with an at-home micronutrient testThis micronutrient test checks for vitamin B12, D, E, Magnesium, Copper, Selenium & Zinc. Get your results in 2-5 days from an accredited laboratory with free shipping, Order today for 30% off.LEARN MOREEmergency careIn addition to the limited accessTrusted Source to trauma centers that people in predominantly Black areas have, evidence suggests racial bias may prevent POC from receiving emergency care.For example, according to Frontiers in Pediatrics, doctors in emergency departments (EDs) are less likely to: classify Black and Latinx children as requiring emergency care compared to white or Asian childrenadmit Black or Latinx children to the hospital after visiting the EDorder blood tests, CT scans, or X-rays for Black, Latinx, or Asian children compared to white childrenThis study did not look at the cause of these differences. However, the researchers say they cannot be explained by social, economic, or clinical factors that would change how doctors treat POC in emergencies.Differences in emergency care also apply to adults. A 2020 study shows that between 2005 and 2016, medical professionals were 10% less likelyTrusted Source to admit Black patients to the hospital than white patients. It also suggests Black people were 1.26 times more likely to die in the ED or hospital.PregnancyRacial disparities also affect the medical care of pregnant people and newborn babies.The term “infant mortality” refers to the proportion of babies who die below the age of one compared to those that live. Organizations often use infant mortality to measure the success of postnatal healthcare.Between 1999–2013, infant mortality tended to decrease in the U.S. However, there were still disparities between racial groups. The following 2013 data comes from the HHSTrusted Source:GroupInfant mortalityBlack11 in 1,000Indigenous8 in 1,000White and Latinx5 in 1,000Asian or Pacific Islander4 in 1,000Black people also face higher risks during pregnancy. According to a 2019 studyTrusted Source, they are 3–4 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white people in the U.S.Medical News Today NewsletterKnowledge is power. Get our free daily newsletter. Dig deeper into the health topics you care about most. Subscribe to our facts-first newsletter today.Enter your emailSIGN UP NOWYour privacy is important to usChronic illnessChronic illnesses are long-term health conditions that can severely impact someone’s quality of life. Sometimes, they can cause disability and require ongoing medical care.A 2019 study found that Black people aged 51–55 were 28% more likelyTrusted Source to already have a chronic illness compared to white people of the same age. The study also found that Latinx people of the same age accumulated chronic diseases faster than white people.The researchers note numerous factors may affect this, such as chronic stress, chronic inflammation, lower rates of insurance coverage, and less access to quality healthcare or PCPs.Mental healthAccording to Mental Health America (MHA), mental illness rates are roughly equivalent between some marginalized groups and white people. However, there are some significant areas of difference, such as:DisabilityOverall, Black people experience a disproportionate amount of disability from mental health conditions compared to white people. Depression in Black and Latinx people is also more likely to be persistent.SchizophreniaBlack males are four times more likely to receive a schizophrenia diagnosis than white males. MHA suggests this is because clinicians can overlook the symptoms of depression and focus more on psychotic symptoms when treating Black people.AddictionNative and Indigenous Americans have the highest alcohol dependence rates out of any marginalized group. Conversely, Asian Americans may be under-diagnosed. A 2016 study suggests doctors are less likely to diagnose alcohol addiction in Asian Americans compared to white people, despite having the same symptoms.This may occur due to the “model minority” stereotype, which frames Asian Americans as successful and self-reliant. The implicit bias this creates may lead doctors to overlook signs that Asian American patients require help.SummaryMany studies reveal racial disparities in how marginalized groups access and receive healthcare in the U.S. Sometimes, these disparities are related to socioeconomic inequality. However, biases and stereotypes also have a serious impact on how doctors treat POC. This can lead to over- or under-diagnosis of certain conditions, a lack of proper pain management, and increased health risks, even when economic status is not a factor.ADVERTISEMENTCheck your vitamin levels with a micronutrient testThis micronutrient test checks for vitamin B12, D, E, Magnesium, Copper, Selenium & Zinc. Get your results in 2-5 days from an accredited laboratory with free shipping, Order today for 30% off.LEARN MORE Last medically reviewed on September 16, 2020Mental HealthPublic HealthEmergency MedicinePain / AnestheticsHealth Equity 14 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Beyond the data: Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on BAME groups. (2020). https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/892376/COVID_stakeholder_engagement_synthesis_beyond_the_data.pdfCheng, A. W., et al. (2016). Model minority stereotype and the diagnosis of alcohol use disorders: Implications for practitioners working with Asian Americans. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15332640.2016.1175990Gaskin, D. J., et al. (2012). Residential segregation and the availability of primary care physicians. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3416972/Gross, C. P., et al. (2020). Racial and ethnic disparities in population level COVID-19 mortality [Abstract]. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.05.07.20094250v1Health, United States, 2015: With special feature on racial and ethnic health disparities. (2015). https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus15.pdfHoffman, K. M., et al. (2016). Racial bias in pain assessment and treatment recommendations, and false beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites. https://www.pnas.org/content/113/16/4296Howell, E. A. (2018). Reducing disparities in severe maternal morbidity and mortality. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5915910/Meghani, S. H., et al. (2012). Time to take stock: A meta-analysis and systematic review of analgesic treatment disparities for pain in the United States. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22239747/Paradies, Y., et al. (2015). Racism as a determinant of health: A systematic review and meta-analysis. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4580597/Quiñones, A. R., et al. (2019). Racial/ethnic differences in multimorbidity development and chronic disease accumulation for middle-aged adults. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6576751/Racism and mental health. (2020). https://mhanational.org/racism-and-mental-healthTung, E. L., et al. (2019). Race/ethnicity and geographic access to urban trauma care. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2727264?utm_source=JAMA_Network&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_term=030819Zhang, X., et al. (2019). Racial and ethnic disparities in emergency department care and health outcomes among children in the United States. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2019.00525/fullZhang, X., et al. (2020). Trends of racial/ethnic differences in emergency department care outcomes among adults in the United States from 2005 to 2016.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32671081/FEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH — Written by Mathieu Rees on September 16, 2020Latest newsThe Go Viral! game makes a person better at spotting misinformationCould humans breathe through their intestines?Does the weirdness of dreams help keep the brain flexible?Why preclinical research models must reflect diverse populationsObesity: New drug turns ‘energy-storing’ fat into ‘energy-burning’ fat
It's crazy to me that this is still happening today. It really shows how messed up our medical system is and how ill-informed many are. (grace g. -b)